Peacock is moving forward with its reboot of the popular sci-fi franchise Battlestar Galactica with the addition of The Sinner creator Derek Simonds. Simonds has joined the project as a writer, executive producer, and showrunner.
The series was created by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, and this is a project that he’s been very excited about. It’s just taking him a very long time to get this thing into development. Michael Lesslie (The Little Drummer Girl) was the previous lead writer and showrunner for the show, but things obviously didn’t work out there.
When previously giving an update on the project, Esmail said: “I just read a great outline and it’s in great shape. Because the strike is over now – at least the WGA strike is over – we’re back into developing it.”
The series might end up being set in the same universe as Ronald D. Moore’s version of the show, which ran from 2004 to 2009. Moore previously explained that he and Esmail discussed the upcoming show. During these conversations, Moore learned that instead of starting from scratch, Esmail planned on keeping his show in the same universe.
“Sam called me and was very gracious, he didn’t pitch me the story so I don’t know. But he said his plans and he wasn’t going to re-start the show and recast it but he wanted to do something in the same universe. Sam’s amazing and I love Mr. Robot. I was like, you know, ‘You’re an amazing guy and amazing writer, go with god!’”
I don’t know if this is the direction they are still taking the show, but I think it would be cool if they did. As I already explained, by the end of the series, it was revealed that the show was set in a cyclical universe, where the events that play out happen again every few thousand years. So, this next show could be set during a new cycle.
Esmail is a strong storyteller, so I’m excited to see what he does with this franchise.
Source: Deadline
