And So It Begins...

Above is a photo posted to Twitter by SyFy exec Mark Stern of a Blood & Chrome production meeting. You can see David Eick to the immediate right of the frame. (click to embiggen.)

And here's the new rookie viper pilot William Adama, call sign "Husker" to be portrayed by Luke Pasqualino:


Entertainment Weekly broke the casting news:

Syfy has cast Luke Pasqualino (Skins — U.K.) as Adama. While Ben Cotton (Hellcats, Riese) is the other lead, playing Adama’s commanding officer.

First, here’s some official character descriptions that give you some new details about the show:
Pasqualino will star as the young, talented fighter pilot William Adama, a recent Academy graduate who finds himself assigned to the newest Battlestar in the Colonial fleet: the Galactica. Full of ambition and in pursuit of the intense action that the Cylon war promises, Adama quickly finds himself at odds with Coker (Cotton), the battle-weary officer to whom he reports. With 45 days left in his tour of duty, Coker desires an end to battle just as much as Adama craves the start of it. Though they clash at first, the two men forge an unlikely bond when a routine mission turns dangerous and becomes a pivotal one for the desperate fleet.

Blood & Chrome is set during the 10th year of the first Cylon war. The show will debut with a two-hour pilot on Syfy, executive produced by David Eick.

Several sites have read the script for Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome either in full or in part, and if you click on the following links you will find spoilers here at, io9, Trek Web, and Spinoff Online. Readers are reacting positively to the storyline as Charlie Jane Anders wrote:

The best thing I can say about Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome is that it feels like BSG. More than the BSG TV movies, more than Caprica, this feels like the gritty, intense show about real characters in impossible situations that we fell in love with. Of course, this time around, we’ll know how everything turns out in advance — but the journey may actually be pretty gods-damned compelling, judging from these pages.

In other news....

Check out this highly detailed map of the Twelve Colonies that you can order from Quantum Mechanix.

Ronald D. Moore's original Series Bible for Battlestar Galactica has been leaked online, and reveals the original shape of the show and the plans for the first season. (Or is this the real show Bible?)

CNN profiled Jane Espenson.



Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer were recent guests at the Women of Sci-Fi Expo in Texas where they talked to fans and did an Acting Outlaws live stream.

And Jamie Bamber has a new BBC show, Outcasts which looks to have some BSG qualities. Watch the trailer here.

Comic-Con 2010: the CAPRICA panel

James Marsters and Sasha Roiz

The FemmeBot has posted youtube video of the entire panel, featuring Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, Sasha Roiz, Alessandra Torressani, and James Marsters.

Part 1 is below, the rest is over here.

For more news about Caprica at SDCC, also check out Caprica TV who are agreggating lots of news all weekend.

"I've heard this story before..." David Eick pulls out the Patron to do shots while Ron Moore explains how Caprica is similar to Dallas

"Shots, anyone?" Panel moderator Geoff Boucher decides now is the time to ask Moore about a Caprica season two. Good move!

Final Comic-Con Schedule Is Out

Here is a full list of all the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and CAPRICA related events announced for San Diego Comic Con from the official event schedule. Still no sign of Ms. Sackhoff; those of you that need to know should keep an eye out. If you are going to San Diego this year, check out the terrific personal scheduling app available for SDCC for the first time. It works on smartphones, you can sign in using Twitter, FaceBook or LinkedIn, and share your panel-going plans on social networks.

ETA: now there is a rumor that James Marsters will attend the CAPRICA panel. No confirmation yet...


THURSDAY

12:00-1:00 Caprica, Battlestar, and Beyond— Hosted by actor/author Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek, Capt. Apollo, So Say We All), this panel features composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar, Eureka, Caprica), producer/writer Michael Taylor (Battlestar, Caprica, Star Trek), science consultant Kevin Grazier (Battlestar, Eureka), and special guests. Richard and the panelists will proide reviews, discussion, and Q&A of Caprica, Battlestar Galactica, and the upcoming BSG movie, including trailers. Room 6A


FRIDAY

10:15-11:15 Hawaii Five-O: Aloha, Earth! — Lost castaway found! Battlestar Cylon becomes human! Star Trek writers return from space! A supernatural force has drawn some of sci-fi's giants back to Earth­ -- and they're all gathering on a beautiful and mysterious island in the Pacific. It's Hawaii Five-0, a modern-day reimagining of one of television's most beloved and iconic classics. The epic series, one of the most anticipated new shows of the season, will explore the origins of the Five-0 team and build on an already rich mythology. Executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek) and Peter M. Lenkov (24), director Len Wiseman (Underworld), and stars Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) and Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica) present an exclusive sneak peek at the series and an in depth discussion on how they plan to marry their genre sensibilities with a classic police procedural. Room 6BCF

11:30-12:30 Caprica— Syfy presents an exclusive glimpse into the future of humanity. Featuring Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone), Sasha Roiz (Sam Adama), James Marsters, Ronald D. Moore (co-creator/executive producer), and David Eick (executive producer) and moderated by Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times. Ballroom 20

2:15-3:15 The Cape: Sneak Peek and Panel Discussion— One man can make a difference...When Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, is framed for murder and presumed killed, he assumes the identity of his son's favorite comic book superhero -- The Cape -- to reclaim his name, family, and his city from the ruthless ARK Corporation and the masked villain known as Chess. Join the cast and creators including David Lyons (ER), Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles), Dorian Missick (Six Degrees), James Frain (True Blood), Keith David (Gamer), Vinnie Jones (X-Men: Last Stand), Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean), composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica), creator/executive producer Thomas Wheeler (Empire), and showrunner/executive producer John Wirth (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) for this sneak peek at the pilot episode and panel discussion. A limited collector edition of The Cape comic book, with a cover by superstar artist John Cassady (Astonishing X-Men), will be given away at the panel. Room 6A

3:15-4:15 Spartacus: Blood and Sand— Andy Whitfield (McLeod's Daughters) makes his Comic-Con debut, along with Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), John Hannah (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor), and Viva Bianca (Bad Bush). Executive producer Stephen S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) joins the cast to discuss the upcoming prequel, titled Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, expected to air on Starz in January 2011, and the exclusive content found on the first season Blu-ray discs, available September 21. Room 6BCF

4:45-5:45 Falling Skies— They're coming. Get the very first look at Steven Spielberg's new series that envisions a world where aliens have invaded and the fate of humanity lies in the hands of a few survivors. Noah Wyle (ER, TNT's The Librarian movies) and Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) join co-executive producer and writer Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) for a Q&A on the new series. Falling Skies premieres on TNT next summer. Room 6A


SATURDAY

3:30-5:00 Warehouse 13 and Eureka— Don't miss two of Syfy's biggest hit series in one exclusive event. Catch back-to-back Warehouse 13 and Eureka panels, featuring Warehouse 13's Eddie McClintock (Pete Lattimer), Joanne Kelly (Myka Bering), Saul Rubinek (Artie Nielsen), Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan), and Jack Kenny (showrunner/executive producer) and Eureka's Colin Ferguson (Jack Carter), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo), James Callis (Grant), Jaime Paglia (co-creator/executive producer/writer), and Bruce Miller (executive producer/writer). Room 6BCF

6:30-7:30 Her Universe: Shining The Spotlight on Female Fans— Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) brings together some of today's leading women who are movers and shakers in the various fields of sci-fi and fantasy. Looking at science fiction through female eyes, the panel will discuss what kinds of entertainment female sci-fi fans want to see more of, what strides have been made, what has been missing up to now, what kinds of merchandise female fans want to see, and what female fans can do to encourage more of all of this. Panelists include Jane Espenson (producer/writer, Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Melinda Snodgrass (author, The Edge series; story editor Star Trek: The Next Generation), Erika Kennair (director of development and current programming, Syfy Channel), Cat Staggs (artist, Star Wars sketch cards, Marvel card sets), Bonnie Burton (content developer, Lucas Online, official SW Blog), Katie Cook (artist, Star Wars, comics, webcomic Gronk), and Mary Franklin (senior events lead, Lucasfilm Ltd.). Q&A with audience members, too! Room 24ABC

ETA: Information on signings and some new CAPRICA merch!

Alessandra Torresani, Jane Espenson, and Bob Harris from CAPRICA are all doing signings at the Entertainment Earth booth over the weekend (schedule here). Mark Sheppard and Richard Hatch are doing signings elsewhere at SDCC booths. And...

NBC Universal will debut "Beyond Caprica - A Visitor's Pocket Guide to the Twelve Colonies" ($10) and an all-new Caprica T-shirt ($20), available for purchase at Entertainment Earth's booth. Here's your chance to own a piece of the hit Syfy channel drama set in the Battlestar Galactica universe.

Paley Center announces NYC CAPRICA event

The Paley Center in New York City has just announced a CAPRICA panel! Finally something for us folks on the East Coast. Here are the details:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6:30 pm ET, New York

Appearing In Person:

Ronald D. Moore, Co-Creator and Executive Producer
David Eick, Executive Producer
Paula Malcomson, "Amanda Graystone"
Alessandra Torresani, "Zoe Graystone"
Magda Apanowicz, "Lacy Rand"
Sasha Roiz, "Sam Adama"

Syfy’s new Battlestar Galactica prequel—more futuristic family saga than space opera—is a provocative, superbly crafted drama that, like its predecessor, tackles complex, highly resonant themes, such as religion, race, terrorism, technology, love, and the very nature of humanity. Like all quality drama, Caprica is not just emotionally and intellectually gripping, but also compels viewers to confront their own reality, even as they are swept up in this visually arresting, preapocalyptic world of sentient robots, avatars, and interplanetary travel.

The Paley Center will preview an upcoming episode from Caprica’s first season, followed by a discussion with members of the cast and creative team.

Paley Center Members: $15, tickets on sale now.
General Public: $25, tickets on sale Wednesday, February 24 at noon.

Random Caprican Culture

Sasha Roiz shares with Show Patrol Blog an incredibly detailed history of Sam Adama's tattoos, as written by CAPRICA's writer/producer Jane Espenson. Impressive!

BSG/CAPRICA executive producer David Eick gave WGA West an interview.

New video: "Hackers Interrupt Buccaneers Promo" - don't miss a single thrilling centum!

Envelope Panel Coverage

A few links are starting to trickle out: Flick Cast correspondent Chris Ullrich posted his experience, as did Fan Cast's Julia Diddy.

The Envelope Emmy series official site has begun posting video excerpts just like they did last year... for more video I assume you will have to hunt the youtubes...

Let us know if you find any other good coverage.

West Coast U.N. Panel Twitter Stream

SciFi has announced on Twitter via their digital team that Battlestar Galactica fans can follow, and contribute to, tonight's redo of the United Nations panel in Los Angeles via this headroom feed.

Just sign in using your Twitter account, and make sure to follow @Visions4Tmrw and use the hashtag #battlestarUN for any tweets.

See you on there -- panel begins at 7:30pm tonight PT. Announced guests are Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, Ron Moore, David Eick, and representatives from the U.N.

Oddly Funny

Former BSG co-exec producer Mark Verheiden says of these YouTube videos:

I'm not quite sure why these are being done, but they are oddly compelling...

I think I agree with him. I rather like this one the most:


Here are the full playlists by HighlandsTechno.

"Ron" discusses reactions to the finale:


"Ron" and "Dave" develop a new show about killer robots in space:

Caprica Paley Video

The Paley Center has video from their Caprica event.











Much more from daphnesadventures's YouTube Channel.

See also a preview from PlayStation Pulse.

UN

Sci-Fi.Com has posted the full video and a transcript of the Battlestar Galactica United Nations discussion.

The Washington Independent wonders if The Heritage Foundation use of a "33 minute" scenario, is because they saw the first one hour BSG episode, "33".

United Nations Panel. Yes, you read that right.

You know very little can surprise me about our beloved show anymore... especially after this past year and the various goings-on, announcements, etc. Yet I continue to be amazed by where it all goes some days.


News via Mo Ryan:

On March 17, there will be a "Battlestar" retrospective at the U.N. in New York and a panel discussion of how the show examined issues such as "human rights, children and armed conflict, terrorism and human rights and reconciliation and dialogue among civilizations and faith," according to Sci Fi.

The "Battlestar" contingent on the panel will consist of executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, as well as stars Mary McDonnell (who plays president Laura Roslin on the show) and Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama).

UN representatives on the panel are Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; Craig Mokhiber, deputy director of the New York office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Robert Orr, assistant secretary-general for policy planning, executive office of the Secretary-General.

The panel will be moderated by "Battlestar" fan Whoopi Goldberg.

The invitation-only panel will take place at 7 p.m. March 17 in the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council Chamber, three days before the Sci Fi show's series finale.

So how many TV shows are there in the known universe that can rock the San Diego Comic Con AND the halls of The U.N.? Just stunning.

Yes fandom, it is "invitation-only"...but given that Emmy season is coming, we have to assume there will be video on SciFi.com soon enough. (And no, Logan and I weren't invited.)

David Eick's Video Blog: Inserts Action & FX

All the videoblogs are here...there was another one posted earlier in the week, but it's not on Hulu.

Where Do We Go From Here?

There was an interview conference call this week with Ron Moore and David Eick, and many bloggers have been reporting on it in bits and pieces. Here’s a bunch of nifty highlights from various sources including Cinema Blend’s full transcript of the call...

• The BATTLESTAR GALACTICA season 4 finale will indeed be three hours long. SciFi is still working out how to air those 3 hours on their schedule. There are apparently plans to air the entire three hours all together at least once.

• Other projects Moore is working on right now include CAPRICA, VIRTUALITY, and new drafts of the THING movie*. Moore says he’ll be “bouncing back and forth” between CAPRICA and THE THING. Both Eick and Moore both list CAPRICA as top on their current to-do list.

• BSG: THE PLAN and CAPRICA do not have air dates planned yet, but THE PLAN is shot and is being edited now.

• Moore had this to say about CAPRICA:
  

We start shooting probably in July, we're putting the writing staff together now and the crew, and just staffing up and getting ready to go. We'll start breaking stories probably in February, and maybe as soon as the end of the month depending on when all the pieces go together. We have a game plan of what the general storyline is and some directions so we're not starting completely from scratch.

... We sort of set out deliberately to set up Caprica so that you didn't have to see Battlestar. I think you could literally watch the pilot of Caprica without seeing a single frame of film from Galactica and you would get it. You could invest in that story completely on its own from there. We want it to stand as its own project.

• From Clique Clack:
  

As far as the webisodes go, Moore didn't know that the webisodes were leaked. He didn't seem all that bothered by it but he was surprised. Moore said he does read some reviews online and will look at some commentary as the show's airing, to see what people have to say.

Someone asked Moore if, out of all the theories he's read out there, has anyone been right? He said there are definitely some spot-on theories, but he hasn't seen anyone who's nailed the whole thing down.

* Bloody Disgusting got a tip recently about the outline of Ron Moore’s THING script (spoiler warning)…and if you STILL haven’t seen THE THING 1982, what are you waiting for? It’s awesome, and it’s on Hulu!


[Sources: Cinema Blend, Deadbolt, Zap2It, CliqueClack, TV Guide, GeekSugar]

DVD clips online

io9 has an exclusive clip from one of the 4.0 DVD extras, with footage of David Eick and Mark Verheiden discussing the show.

Youtuber kdlmd243 has posted these four clips from the DVD extras.

David Eick interview

Newsarama has posted an interview with David Eick, discussing season 4.5, CAPRICA, internet rumors and leaks about his shows...and a quick mention of his other two projects for NBC...a few snippets below.

NRAMA: Can you confirm the rumors the second string of episodes will be longer as well end on a two hour series finale?

Eick: Honestly, we are still working on the season finale so we don’t know the answer yet.

...

NRAMA: What has surprised you the most about Battlestar Galactica’s rabid fanbase, especially since there was such uproar early on about the character changes?

Eick: Once again, any publicity is good publicity so when people complained, I thought the more the better because it would only serve to elevate the profile of the mini-series when it premiered. Nothing has changed in my mind. It continues to be talked about and has its critics or people who are still upset it’s not more like the original show. I would suspect those people continue to watch it in order to fuel their rational for complaining so either way we win. As for Comic-Con, it’s the one day a year Ron and I get to feel like Paul McCartney. Suddenly, it’s a shock that we are not doing a 20 rating because everyone knows and cares about it. It’s a very gratifying one day a year.

...

NRAMA: Lastly, is there any news on your Children of Men series?

Eick: Yeah, Children of Men is a pilot at NBC that is still awaiting word and I am working on another series for them called The Philanthropist which is a 13-episode order premiering in March. It is about a billionaire world traveler who uses his unique access and power to help people in need. It is a very unusual show we will be shooting in three different continents all over the world.

Super Size Me

BSG Executive Producer David Eick, talked to Nephele Tempest of Sci-Fi Wire about season 4.5 getting longer:

The second half of the fourth and final season of SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica promises fans a number of extra-long, jam-packed episodes as it works toward the climactic finale, executive producer David Eick told fans at Comic-Con International in San Diego on July 26.

In a subsequent interview, Eick told SCI FI Wire that producers have been "able to convince the network to let us air ... long episodes--[to] take single episodes and make them double episodes, ... [and to take] double episodes and make them quadruple episodes."

Eick added: "Our episodes are always ... long, and we're constantly getting into the editing room with 10, 15, sometimes 20 minutes of material that you can't get into an episode." With just a half-season remaining, Eick said, "the story has become so critical in order to realize the arc of the series that we can't just cut stuff out and save it for later or push it 'til next year, the stuff we're used to doing. It's all got to be there."

So perhaps Eick means that some regular episodes will run a few minutes longer than usual and be super sized. We already know the original intention was that the Series Finale would be a 2 hour episode, that has since been expanded to run for 3 hours. But, the Final Episode was so epic in production, they have enough material to make it a 4 hour finale. We already know from Maureen Ryan's interview with Ron Moore that the Final Episode will be longer for the DVD version than what will be aired on TV. Unless, Sci-Fi has agreed to have it run for an additional hour.

To recap: Originally season 4.5 was going to be 10 hours. Then by adding a 3rd hour to the Final Episode it grew to 11 hours. So, if the Finale gets a 4th hour to air, we'll be seeing 12 hours of 4.5, hopefully if all this works out with the Sci-Fi Channel.

More from the TCAs...part deux

From a Sci Fi interview with Ron Moore:

Ronald D. Moore, who co-created Fox's two-hour SF backdoor pilot film VIRTUALITY, told SCI FI Wire that the film is gearing up to shoot at the end of this month..."Virtuality is in preproduction," Moore said in an interview at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 20. "We start shooting the end of the month. We've got a cast. Peter Berg's directing. It's for Fox. It's a completely different kind of show."

Virtuality will air as a movie of the week, Moore added.

That's an interesting tidbit at the end...combining this with Moore's other statements last night, and what Fox exec Peter Liguori was saying earlier in the week about VIRTUALITY, it sounds like the pilot/movie will be truly unusual television -- and everyone involved needs to see a finished product before there is any news about this going to series.

So cross yer fingers.



From The Live Feed:

Sci Fi had a panel for "Caprica" during the network's TCA session, where showrunner Ron Moore and cast members took the stage to answer questions from critics. The project has long been called a two-hour backdoor pilot, and is supposed to air sometime this fall. An upgrade to a series order would likely push its air date until sometime next year, a Sci Fi spokesperson says. Certainly the very act of paneling a mere pilot at the critics tour suggests network enthusiasm for the project.

Moore says that it won’t matter that people already know how the prequel story ends. In fact, he's counting on that to add suspense.

..." 'Caprica' is a different animal [from the current series]," he says. “It’s about a vibrant society that is at the height of its power and the height of its decadence. It’s going to come apart. It’s sort of like a roller coaster.”

The action will be firmly grounded on the planet of Caprica rather than lots of space-based jumping around between different locations. Executive producer David Eick said technological emphasis in the new show will be on artificial intelligence instead of space travel.

“That’s what’s new on this show, rather than space travel, which we take as an existing technology," Eick says.

From TV Week on CAPRICA:

"The tension comes from the fact that you know where it's going," said executive producer Ronald D. Moore.

"The idea is to say, 'All that you see here is doomed.' There's an ominous (tone)," he said.

Moore compared the situation to producers of war movies.

"You know how World War II is going to turn out. You know the Nazis are going to lose," he said. "That doesn't mean you can't tell compelling stories."

From a Sci Fi interview with CAPRICA cast member Eric Stolz:

Stoltz told SCI FI Wire that he will play Daniel Graystone, a wealthy computer whiz who bears a resemblance to a mogul in our universe.

"A lot like Bill Gates, only richer," Stoltz said in an interview.

..."I would say there are two poles that fuel the drama, but I'd be hard pressed one is a good guy and one is a bad guy," Stoltz said. "What it has similar with Battlestar is that there's a gray area. No character is all good or all bad. We all have our gray areas that we live within. But it's interesting that way: You're not quite sure who you should or shouldn't be rooting for."

Unlike Battlestar, Caprica takes place in a world not unlike our own, Stoltz added. "I think Caprica taking place 51 years before Battlestar happens, it's very similar to our society now," he said. "There are no flying cars. There are no spaceships. We're on an Earth-like planet. We wear the same clothes. We have similar problems. Ideally, people will be able to watch Caprica and think, 'This is similar to what we're [doing], to what's happening in the States right now.'"

From The TV Addict on CAPRICA:

The clip reel they showed during Sunday’s Television Press Tour Panel had a real detective / film noir look to it. Men wear suits, fedoras, and live in a world where people smoke and drink. Plus, they also apparently go to strip clubs, as there was a pretty clear shot of some side boobage. CAPRICA looks to be trying to up the “hot” factor with this spinoff. According to Remi Aubuchon, writer and executive producer, they weren’t specifically trying to emulate the look of MAD MEN, but he said that that show and CAPRICA do a “good job of making the viewer realize immediatelty that you’re looking at a different era.”

...Esai Morales, plays the father of Edward James Olmos’ William Adama character, and a young boy plays a version of Olmos’ character. Moore quipped, “Eddie wantd to do it. He came in doing one of those things where he’s on his knees with the shoes. He’s really upset that we didn’t use him.” When asked why we haven’t seen other Adama characters played by Hispanics, Moore said “Well, within the world of Battlestar Galactica, the Adama’s aren’t Hispanic. He’s an immigrant from a colony called Tauron, and he changes his name to Joseph Adama to try and assimilate himself.”

And, for fun, BSG writer/producer Mark Verheiden (who is currently working on an an additional CAPRICA script) adds his non-spoilery half a cent:

Nothing much I can add, except having read the pilot script, I'll just say Caprica is as fascinating, daring and intriguing as Battlestar, though in a completely different way. I know what you're thinking, what does THAT mean? Is it shot in Smell-o-vision? Do the characters speak backwards? Is it powerful, thought-provoking drama? If you picked "C", you win...

The Hollywood Reporter mentions that Sci Fi is expanding their brand:

Sci Fi has expanded and reorganized its wide-ranging businesses under a new umbrella, Sci Fi Ventures, it said Sunday at the TCA press tour...

In addition to the cable channel, Sci Fi Ventures is to include Sci Fi Media (SciFi.com, Dvice and Fidgit and a new theatrical film banner, Sci Fi Films); Sci Fi Games (a partnership with Trion Worldwide and an equity stake in BigPoint Games); Sci Fi Gear (licensed product lines); Sci Fi Publishing (Sci Fi/Virgin Comics); and Sci Fi Kids (fantasy and imaginative products for youngsters).

And...OT but fun: LA FEMME NIKITA fans out there take note, they mention working on an original movie featuring Peta Wilson.

More from the TCAs...

BuddyTV on both shows:

...the final season of Battlestar Galactica will air in January 2009. Sanctuary will premiere in October, and there is currently no set date for Caprica. The executives at Sci Fi are waiting to see the two-hour TV movie to decide whether to air it in the Fall or to save it to air along with the eventual series.

...[Caprica] will be pre-apocalyptic, but it will not rely on making constant references to Battlestar Galactica. Moore stated that we most likely won't be meeting Gaeta's grandfather, primarily because in this old world, the 12 colonies are not unified under one government.

...Moore added that when he and Eick first discussed a companion piece to Battlestar Galactica, the prequel was the only viable idea. He revealed a continuation wasn't likely since BSG will have a definitive ending. “We're going to end Battlestar with a period at the end of the sentence.”

Caprica will most likely not include references to the families of characters in BSG beyond the Adamas. Moore said in Caprica the 12 colonies are not united, so there is no president.

Robert Philpot's blog indicates that Eric Stoltz, Paula Malcomson and David Eick were also present with Ron Moore and the Sci Fi execs.


iF Magazine on CAPRICA:

The biggest news on CAPRICA, [Sci Fi Channel's Mark] Stern reveals that even though it's a backdoor pilot, it may not air as a movie first.

"We’ll take liberty of [looking at the series] over the next two weeks and then decide it whether to hold it and make it part of a full blown series or air it first as a two-hour movie," says Stern.

What that means -- if the show is good, they see a viable option, expect an announcement of ordering it as a series, before it gets a chance to air as a TV movie.

The iF piece also mentions more on the backdoor pilot WAREHOUSE 13 (Rockne O'Bannon is involved), and that Sci Fi is developing a new mini-series based on an idea by Bryan Singer -- to be scripted by Richard C. Matheson. No word yet on the previously-mentioned David Eick CHILDREN OF MEN adaptation...

Final Comic-Con Schedule

For you lucky ducks who got your tickets, or can afford the highway robbery of eBay scalpers, the final Comic-Con schedule has now been posted for all four days.

In addition to the Thursday and Friday events we posted previously, and the Bear McCreary gig, the following BSG-related events are happening on Saturday:

• 2:15-3:15pm - Battlestar Galactica: Last year, Battlestar Galactica took San Diego by storm. Now the best show on television returns to Comic-Con for a panel filled with excitement, laughter, and a sneak peek into the final revelation. Focusing on the character relationships that give this hit series its power, this exclusive panel sheds new light on the ties between Humans and Cylons and provides valuable insight into the adventure ahead. Panelists include cast members Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Michael Trucco, and Katee Sackhoff and executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, along with moderator Kevin Smith. Ballroom 20.
  

• 6:00-7:00pm - TV Guide takes an in-depth look at some of the new and returning TV series, featuring the hottest TV talent—in front of the camera and behind the scenes. TV Guide executive editor Craig Tomashoff moderates this panel offering the inside scoop, with some fun surprises. Participants include (in alphabetical order) Josh Applebaum (executive producer, Life on Mars), Jaimie Alexander (Kyle XY), Matt Dallas (Kyle XY), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (creator, The Middleman), Ronald Moore (executive producer, Virtuality), Natalie Morales (The Middleman), Jason O’Mara (Life on Mars), and Jason Smilovic (executive producer, My Own Worst Enemy), among other special guests. Room 6B.

Halfway To Nerdvana

Thanks to friend of the blog The One True b!X, we were alerted that half the Comic Con schedule, for Thursday and Friday programming only, was posted last night without fanfare. It has since been taken down, but we saved PDFs for download here. [ETA: Comic Con's David Glanzer left a comment on the Spout blog saying these are not final schedules.]

The BSG-related panels listed for these two days are:

Thursday, July 24

• 11:15am-12:15pm - 30th Anniversary Battlestar Galactica Panel: Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek/Apollo), Bear McCreary (BG composer), producer Tom DeSanto (Transformers, X-Men), Dr. Kevin Grazier (science consultant), and surprise guests present an in-depth discussion of the Battlestar universe from the classic to the re-imagined and beyond, including BSG trailers and Q&A.

• 11:45am-12:45pm - Knight Rider: First Look at the New Series and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers. Room 6A. *castmember Paul Campbell (formerly "Billy" on BSG) is scheduled to attend with the rest of the cast.
  

• 10:00-11:00am - Kings: Exclusive Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers. Kings is a contemporary re-imagining of the timeless tale of David and Goliath, an epic story of greed and power, war and romance, forbidden loves and secret alliances, and a young hero who rises to power in a modern-day kingdom. Be the first to see an exclusive sneak peek from the two-hour pilot. Moderated by Greg Grunberg (Heroes), the panel includes a Q&A with creator/executive producer Michael Green (Heroes), director/executive producer Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend), executive producer Erwin Stoff (I Am Legend), and the cast: Golden Globe winner Ian McShane (Deadwood), Chris Egan (Resident Evil: Extinction), Susanna Thompson (Star Trek: Voyager), Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl), and Allison Miller (Seventeen Again). Room 6B * We list this because BSG's Kevin Fahey has just joined their writing staff. Also because we follow Ian McShane wherever he goes nowadays.

• 11:00am-12:00pm - Professional Writing: Threat or Menace? Let's talk writing, creativity, and selling (and selling out), and what the world of professional writing is like. Questions that you've always wanted to ask? Creative blocks bugging you? Wondered what the H*O*L*L*Y*W*O*O*D life is really like? Show up and get answers to those questions. This no-holds-barred talk is moderated by J. Michael Straczynski. Room 5AB * I'm listing this one because I wanted to make Logan's day. He's a fan. :D
  

Friday, July 25

• 1:00-2:00pm - Production Designers: For the second consecutive year, Comic-Con attendees will have the opportunity to interact with a lineup of master production designers—the artists responsible for creating the looks of today’s most celebrated sci-fi/fantasy films and television. Organized by the Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, these production designers will show clips, answer questions, and share their methods for creating imaginary worlds and convincing environments. Participating panelists (listed alphabetically) include Richard Hudolin (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica), Alex McDowell (Watchmen, Corpse Bride), J. Michael Riva—(Iron Man, Spider-Man 3),—Barry Robison (Wolverine, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Moderating the panel is John Muto, designer of Terminator 2 3D, Species, and Home Alone. Room 32AB

• 6:00-7:00pm - Exceeding Expectations and Exploring New Worlds: Feature Effects for the Small Screen. Zoic Studios moderates a discussion with VFX supervisors on their passion for creating narrative enhancing, eye-popping effects for television. Some of the best in the business discuss future trends as well as their contribution to the television series Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, The Middleman, Lost, Eureka, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Smallville, and the new fall show Fringe. Room 32AB

No official word yet on the Holy Grail that is Saturday's schedule, but I have cobbled together the following:

• The Saturday BSG panel may include Tricia Helfer, James Callis, and other "human/cylon couples" such as Katee Sackhoff and Michael Trucco (source); and may include Kevin Smith (source). This would be great, since Smith was a hilariously good moderator of the 2007 BSG panel at New York Comic Con. This is what Tricia had to say recently in a long interview:
  

Question: How busy are you going to be at COMIC CON in a couple of weeks?
Helfer: I’m sure I’m going to be pretty busy. I think Battlestar is sending down some Cylon human couples, so I know I’ll be there with Baltar and Starbuck will be there with Anders, so it should be a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to it.

Question: Are you going to do anything with Burn Notice at COMIC CON?
Helfer: I don’t know yet actually. I will certainly be willing. I just haven’t heard yet.

• The Saturday evening TV Guide New Series panel will include Ron Moore discussing VIRTUALITY, as well as Jason Smilovic (formerly with BIONIC WOMAN) for MY OWN WORST ENEMY and others. (source)
  

• Mark Verheiden has mentioned he will be at Nerdvana as well:

…it appears that I'll be involved in the Dark Horse panel at the big San Diego convention later in July. Bruce Campbell will also put in an appearance and clips from the long awaited My Name Is Bruce will be on display. I haven't got an exact time yet but it will be Saturday, and hopefully won't collide with the Battlestar panel, which promises to be a star-studded affair. Otherwise I don't have any panels scheduled, so I'll just be wandering the halls looking at a expensive comic books and meeting up with old pals.

More as it becomes available!

• Famous BSG fans Seth Green, Joss Whedon and Kevin Smith are busy as all heck this year at Comic Con. Green will be there for ROBOT CHICKEN, and with Seth McFarlane for FAMILY GUY (which will be a big hoot). His NY Comic Con panel was HILARIOUS, I highly recommend you see him do something, anything. Whedon is promoting his Buffy Comics and internet musical DOCTOR HORRIBLE'S SINGALONG BLOG on Friday, and TV show DOLLHOUSE on Saturday. Smith will do his own panel for all topics including his new film ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO (we hear there may be a new red band trailer to see), participate in EW's Visionaries: Filmmakers panel, and mod a panel hosted by Spike TV's Scream Awards, called "Spike Salutes the Women of Sci-Fi."