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Galactica’s New Adama

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Now that Caprica has gone (sniff, sniff) to make way for a different spinoff of the flagship show, titled Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, is ramping up for the start of production. Like the first two Galactica-related shows on Syfy, this one also follows the story of both the Cylons’ struggle against the 12 Colonies, as well as zeroing in on the life of William Adama.

Memorably played by Edward James Olmos in Battlestar Galactica, the character was also introduced briefly as a young child at the end of prequel Caprica (after we spent some time getting to know his dad, Joseph). British actor Luke Pasqualino (picturedhas been cast as 20-something William Adama for Blood & Chrome, where the character is fresh out of the Academy and assigned as a rookie fighter pilot to — what else? — the Galactica.

Pasqualino is primarily known for his starring role on the U.K. version of Skins (you know, that racy MTV soap that everyone’s up in arms about). Also just cast for the new show: character actor Ben Cotton as Adama’s superior officer Coker. The two men fly together on a dilapidated Raptor and butt heads at first, but eventually forge a bond during a routine mission gone awry. Industry insiders familiar with the pilot’s script suggest that it pits the young Adama in a “cocky pilot” role with some similarities to Kara “Starbuck” Thrace.

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome is picks up during the tenth year of the first war against the Cylons. The show’s first season is expected to debut in early 2012.

Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome Concept Art

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Syfy’s Blastr.com has posted the very first concept art from Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, which is currently in development for the network. The four pieces of art — by illustrator Peter Rubin — show some truly tantalizing scenes that depict just how action-packed this series will be.

There’s a shot of an older-model Raptor tearing through Galactica‘s hangar bay, which itself is being blasted to bits. Love the “teeth” on the Raptor!

Another image depicts a mechanical Cylon that’s taken on the shape of a human female, with just a few hints of skin on its exoskeleton. The female Cylon is standing in a rather Six-like pose, don’t you think?

This particularly intriguing illustration shows a snowy battlescape with a Dune-ish giant snake on the attack, which Blastr says is called a “Cython.”

Finally, there’s an entirely new model of Cylon Centurion.

I haven’t been terribly excited about this Galactica spinoff… until now. If the show can actually be made at this level of production values, while taking us deeper into the history of the Cylon/Human war… then okay, I’m in.

Syfy Orders 2nd ‘Battlestar’ Spinoff

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Syfy just can’t get enough Battlestar Galactica. The acclaimed show ended its four-season run about a year ago, but prequel series Caprica is currently nearing the end of its first season, and now Syfy has ordered a pilot for a whole new BSG series, set during the early days of William Adama’s career.

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome will follow Adama’s adventures during the first Cylon war — which takes place between the events of Caprica and the flagship series. We previously got a brief glimpse at this young adult version of the future Admiral during the two-hour TV movie Razor (and some accompanying online webisodes) when actor Nico Cortez perfectly nailed Edward James Olmos’ tics and mannerisms (pictured above). No word yet on whether or not Cortez will appear in the new show.

My excitement about this announcement is tempered by the fact that BSG‘s re-imaginer Ron Moore, will not be working on Blood & Chrome. His producing partner David Eick is onboard, but Eick’s track record without Moore by his side is spotty at best (Bionic Woman). Eick describes the show as “maintaining the themes of politics, social propaganda, and the timeless question:  what does it mean to be human? — Blood & Chrome will also return us to the authentic, relentless depiction of combat and the agony and ecstasy of human-Cylon war.”

Here’s the show’s official description:

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, a sentient robotic race, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a brash rookie viper pilot enters the fray. Ensign William Adama, barely in his 20’s and a recent Academy graduate, finds himself assigned to the newest battlestar in the Colonial fleet… the Galactica. The talented but hot-headed risk-taker soon finds himself leading a dangerous top secret mission that, if successful, will turn the tide of the decade long war in favor of the desperate fleet.

It’s also interesting to note that the character of William Adama also appears in Caprica, as a pre-teen boy. So if Blood & Chrome goes to series, we’ll have seen him depicted in three different shows at very diverse parts of his life. Has there ever been another TV character to be given three TV shows that chronicle various parts of his lifespan in this way? I can’t think of one.