Why Bryan Singer's Battlestar Galactica is a Bad Idea

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Universal today confirmed rumors that Bryan Singer is leaping aboard a bigscreen Battlestar Galactica redo, and he won't simply be producing -- he's attached to direct, as well. I'm always willing to be convinced, but I can't help but think this is an ill-advised project in a couple of ways.

The most obvious knock against the project is the timing. Going ahead with this movie right on the heels of the SyFy television series is bound to confuse audiences, especially the ones who never watched it and won't realize this is an entirely new conception. Instead, those moviegoers are likely to brush the project off, thinking, "Sorry, never watched the DVDs. Too late to catch up now."

For fans who know the difference, Singer will still have to contend with widespread skepticism and the problem of a brand that's already been plundered of its geek cred. Television shows like The Sarah Connor Chronicles and, yes, Smallville already siphoned off excitement from their concurrent bigscreen revivals -- you'd think it's a lesson that Singer would have absorbed by now.

I'd much rather see Singer revive Logan's Run, as he'd planned to several years ago. It's a concept that could easily be modernized, hasn't seen its brand diluted by its television shows, and would no doubt provide for some super-fun casting sessions. Developing...

· Bryan Singer to direct and produce 'Battlestar Galactica' movie [EW]



Comments

  • CiscoMan says:

    Yes, Singer, please do Logan's Run, which is one a few properties absolutely begging for a remake (The Running Man also leaps to mind, though the killer reality show thing may be going stale).
    "Widespread skepticism" may not be strong enough. The SyFy BSG fanboys (like myself) would frak him something fierce.
    In other news, I have yet to stop laughing at "SyFy."

  • Lowbrow says:

    I detected numerous parallels to The Running Man when I saw the trailer for the upcoming Gamer.

  • snickers says:

    How can you not mention the awesomeness that was Galactica 1980? Those flying motorcycles!

  • Furious D says:

    They waited around what 6 months for a remake?
    Does Universal have short term memory problems?

  • God of Carnage says:

    You are very smart, Kyle.

  • Colander says:

    Not to be the 'slow kid', but I feel like an awesome BSG movie would be good for some people, who maybe don't want to digest the entire (albeit, adored) recent SyFy series.
    I mean, what this guy needs to do is an X-Men movie, and only that, ever, but I'll take this.

  • plus, how many damn bsg movies and spin offs do there have to be? Its not really that popular is it? I mean, i dont see any grandmas wearing cylon tee shirts from target.
    Although, I am all form Eric Stolz and Eddie Jimmy Olmos getting some action.
    (yeah, I know about the fifty years prior, so zip it fanboys)

  • snickers says:

    The way things are going these days in Hollywood, I'm sure no one would mind if Singer would very kindly remake X-Men 3 for our enjoyment.

  • DarkKnightShyamalan says:

    No, I think that's exactly where we're headed... movies as software. "The Golden Compass" flops, so they put out a brand-new version the next year with a different director and cast. Imagine the possibilities. Every single book in the Twilight series could have 25 film adaptations, with everyone from Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Samm Levine getting a crack at playing Edward. It'll take some of the pressure off R-Patz, at least!

  • No. But do not cook acid foods like apples or tomatoes in aluminum pots. The aluminum leaches out into the food and aluminum is found in the plaques in the brains of alzheimer's patients. I don't want to take any chances.