NBCUniversal hada big unveilingfor its upcoming streaming service Peacock earlier today, and along with the list of library titles that will be available upon launch, they made two major new series announcements: aBattlestar Galacticareboot fromMr. RobotcreatorSam Esmailand aSaved by the Bellrevival.
Details are scant on both series, but aSaved by the Bellrevival has been in the works for years. NBCUniversal confirms original cast membersElizabeth BerkleyandMario Lopezwill be a part of this new reboot, but it’s unclear who’s running the series or what it will be about. In 2009,Jimmy Fallonbrought together a number of original cast members onThe Tonight Show, and they reunited once again in 2015 for Fallon. It appears goodwill has been there for a while (well, save forDustin Diamond), it was just a matter of finding the right way to bring the show back.
As forBattlestar Galactica, the original series launched in 1978 and was followed by a short-run sequel series, but the most beloved adaptation ofBattlestar Galacticaarrived in 2003 courtesy ofRonald D. Moore. The show was reconceived as an allegory for the post-9/11 world, tackling issues like the War on Terror, and ran through 2009 enjoying serious critical acclaim.
Since that time, a continuation or reboot ofBattlestar Galacticahas been in the works, but none has come to fruition. Universal put a feature film reboot in development in the 2009 withBryan Singeroriginally set to direct, and most recentlyFrancis Lawrence(The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) came onboard to helm the project in 2016.
With the news thatMr. RobotandHomecomingcreator Esmail is executive producing a newBattlestar Galacticareboot, it’s safe to say that iteration of theBattlestarmovie is probably dead. Esmail took to Twitter to note that he’s not remaking Moore’s show, but instead building on existing mythology:
It’s unclear if bothBattlestarandSaved by the Bellwill be ready in time for Peacock’s launch in April 2020, but they’ll be joined by one other unlikely reboot:Punky Brewster. That revival of the 1980s comedy about a girl being raised by a foster parent will seeSoleil Moon Fryereprising her titular role, focusing on the main character as an adult.
For the full lineup of what’s coming to NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock,click here.
