Simon Kinberg has signed on to both pen and produce the long-gestating feature adaptation of the sci-fi TV franchise “Battlestar Galactica” in the works at Universal Pictures.
Kinberg was the main architect of the most recent “X-Men” movies and will join producer Dylan Clark on the project which has had the likes of Bryan Singer and Francis Lawrence attached as director at different points.
Kinberg says in a statement: “Battlestar Galactica is one of the holy grails in science fiction, and I couldn’t be more excited about bringing something new to the franchise, while honoring what’s made it so iconic and enduring. I’m so grateful that Dylan and my partners at Universal have trusted me with this incredible universe.”
Glen A. Larson created the original series for ABC in the late 1970s, while NBC Universal TV produced the acclaimed Ronald D. Moore-run revamp which ran from 2004-2009 on the Sci-Fi Channel. Both centered on the last group of humans on the verge of extinction after a series of wars with a robot race, The Cylons, destroyed the Twelve Colonies.
All the humans are left in one remaining battleship group, anchored by the Galactica, as they search for their last option for survival: a fabled Thirteenth Colony known as Earth. Last year it was announced that “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail was developing a TV follow-up of sorts to the Ron Moore-era version for Universal’s Peacock service.
The film is separate from that and its own thing. Kinberg himself is gearing up for the release of “The 355,” a female-centric spy thriller he co-wrote and directed which is opening mid-January.
Source: Heat Vision
