After languishing in development since 2009, Universal Pictures’Battlestar Galacticamovie is finally moving forward in the right direction. We reported last month that the studio has brought onMichael De Luca,Scott StuberandDylan Clarkto produce thissci-fi reboot, but now even more progress is being made. Today we have word that HBO’sWestworldco-creatorLisa Joyhas signed on to write the screenplay, withFrancis Lawrence(The Hunger Games: Mockingjay) circling the project as a director.
This new report fromDeadlinedoesn’t reveal ifFrancis Lawrenceis in negotiations, or if he’s just interested in taking on this coveted directorial gig. Much like the original 1978 TV series, and the critically-acclaimed 2003 TV reboot, this project will follow the longstanding battle between humans and the Cylons, although no specific plot details were given. We reported back in 2014 that this project will be a full reboot that is more cloesly related to the original 1978 TV version.
Universal first started developing thisBattlestar Galactica movieback in 2009, shortly after theSyfy TV seriescompleted its run.Bryan Singerwas attached to direct at one point before dropping out. In 2011,John Orloff(Anonymous) signed on to write the script, which was said, at the time, to be based on the original 1978Battlestar GalacticaTV series, and not the 2003Battlestar Galacticaremake series, but it isn’t known if that is still the plan, with a new writer coming aboard.
Before the producers came aboard in February, the last we heard on this project was in 2014, whenTranscendencewriterJack Paglenwas brought on to work on the script. The 1978 version ofBattlestar Galacticaran for just one season, starringRichard Hatch,Dirk BenedictandLorne Greene, centering on humans from the Twelve Colonies engaged in a war with the Cylon robots. The 2003 series starredEdward James Olmos,Mary McDonnell,Tricia HelferandKatee Sackhoff, airing over four seasons on the Syfy Channel. The remake also spawned the prequel seriesCapricaand the web seriesBattlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome.
Francis Lawrencemost recently directed theHunger Gamesfranchise finaleMockingjay Part 2, which hit theaters in November. He is next set to reunite with starJennifer Lawrencewith the spy thrillerRed Sparrow, withBattlestar Galacticaset to come after his work on that project.Lisa Joystarted her writing career on ABC’sPushing Daisies, before serving as a writer and producer on USA’sBurn Notice. She co-created the upcomingWestworldwith her husband,Jonathan Nolan, which is set to debut this fall on HBO.
