Instead of going through withdrawal, fans of “Battlestar Galactica” can breathe a sigh of relief. The Sci Fi Channel has given the green light to both “Caprica,” a prequel to the four-season space war phenomenon, and “Battlestar Galactica: The Plan,” a two-hour TV movie set to air in the fall.

The spin-off series “Caprica” premieres with a two-hour pilot, available on DVD and digital download since April. The pilot will be re-released along with the 18-episode first season of “Caprica,” scheduled for broadcast in early 2010.

“Caprica” takes place in the same universe, 58 years before the events of “Battlestar Galactica.” Though it is a prequel, it is self-contained. Viewers can enjoy and understand the show with no prior knowledge of “Battlestar Galactica.” And unlike “BSG,” “Caprica” is less about the space battles and more about family drama and political intrigue. The series takes place on the planet Caprica, a world just a few technological leaps and bounds ahead of our own. To give the show a retro feel, much of the costume and set design is based on 1950’s styles.

Welcome to a civilization drunk on its own success, dizzy with the possibilities of unlimited technology, and darkened by ethnic and class prejudice. “Caprica” tells the story of two families who lose their daughters in a terrorist attack, and go to extreme measures to get them back. It stars Eric Stoltz as Daniel Graystone, a technological entrepreneur who develops artificial intelligence in order to clone his dead daughter, and Esai Morales as Joseph Adama (father of “BSG”s William Adama), a lawyer who wrestles with the moral implications of bringing his own daughter back to life as a robot.

Are the two resurrected daughters the first Cylons? Is this where the war in Battlestar Galactica all began? Producer Ron Moore isn’t telling yet. But he has stated that he wants to reach a larger demographic than “BSG”s science fiction cult following. The show is essentially a family drama, taking place entirely Earth-bound (or Caprica-bound, if you will). Moore hopes that the lack of spaceships and military action will appeal to female viewers.

Can’t wait a whole year for “Caprica”? The Sci Fi Channel has you covered. “The Plan,” a two-hour movie directed by Edward James Olmos (star of “Battlestar Galactica”) is set to air in the fall. Written by “BSG” veteran Jane Espenson, “The Plan” retells the story of “BSG” from the point of view of the Cylons. “The Cylons were created by man. They rebelled. They evolved. There are many copies. And they have a plan.” Get it? “The Plan” stars many of “BSG”s series regulars, including Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Hogan, Aaron Douglas, and Olmos himself. Like “Battlestar Galactica: Razor,” “The Plan” takes place during the events of the television series, and fills in the gaps left open by the human-centric original plot.

Miss watching “BSG” every Friday night? Frak your nostalgia. Catch “Battlestar Galactica: The Plan” on the Sci Fi Channel in November, and “Caprica” in 2010.

About The Author

Bombshell executive editor Jess d'Arbonne works in book publishing. In her non-existent spare time she writes about nerd culture, books, feminism, and zombies. She's a Libra, a Browncoat, a self-professed geek, and nobody's fool. You can follow her on Twitter @JessDarb

2 Responses

  1. Darth Angelus

    I wasn’t expecting much from the Caprica pilot but it turned out much better than I thought, so I’m curious to see what happens with the series.

    Looking forward to The Plan as well.

    And for anyone who misses Galactica, check out my website, it’s a scifi webseries that should appeal to fans of BSG 😉

    Reply
  2. Mark N

    Ummmm… Battlestar fans outside the US wont “breathe a sigh of relief”. Caprica has no release date for the DVD in Australia and Sci-Fi, because they are a bunch of Xenophobes, block sale of the downloadable and DVD versions outside the US.
    How would you feel if that happened to you? Really insulting isn’t it.

    Reply

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