‘Battlestar Galactica’ Reboot: Everything We Know about Sam Esmail’s Peacock Show

NBCUniversal has entered the streaming wars, riding into battle atop a… peacock? The TV giant has announced that their upcoming streaming service will be named Peacock after the network’s longtime mascot. Not only will the platform—launching in 2020 hot on the heels of so many other streaming services—be the exclusive home of hit sitcoms like The Office and Parks and Recreation, it will also have a lot of originals in its lineup. Those shows include a Saved by the Bell revival, a late night talk show hosted by Amber Ruffin, and a new Battlestar Galactica.

Whoah, a new Battlestar Galactica?! That’s right! The cult classic, critically-acclaimed sci-fi series will get a new life on Peacock. But who is in the Battlestar Galactica cast? And what is the premise behind the BSG reboot? We don’t know a lot yet, but here’s what we do know.

Who is in the Battlestar Galactica reboot?

That’s a mystery. Unlike the Saved by the Bell revival, which was announced with two actor names attached, the BSG reboot only has one marquee name involved so far–and they’re not an actor.

Who is producing the Battlestar Galactica reboot?

That marquee name I mentioned? It’s executive producer Sam Esmail. Esmail is most known as the creator of USA’s groundbreaking hit Mr. Robot, the series that put now Oscar winner Rami Malek on the map.

Esmail followed that up with Prime Video’s Homecoming, which marked Julia Roberts’ debut as a TV series lead. Now he’s bringing Battlestar Galactica back, but he’ll only serve as EP for the series. The search is reportedly on to find a writer to bring the fan favorite sci-fi drama into the new decade. Esmail’s frequent producing partner Chad Hamilton will also serve as executive producer.

What will the Battlestar Galactica reboot be about?

That’s also a big mystery. The use of the word “reboot” in the announcement implies that the show give the franchise a fresh start, meaning it’ll be just as separate from the 2004 Sci-Fi Channel series as that show was from the original 1978 feature film. While Peacock hasn’t released any official info about Esmail’s take on the franchise, sources have told THR that the reboot will be an “updated, more modern look at the world as told through the lens of the sci-fi favorite,” whatever that means.

Further confusing matters, though, is a tweet from Esmail himself.

So, it’s not a remake, which means don’t expect to see any familiar faces (no Tricia Helfer or Edward James Olmos) and potentially don’t expect to hear any familiar names (no Starbuck?). But Esmail says the show will “explore a new story within the mythology” which, if they’re keeping the mythology that means it could be set either hundreds of years after the events of the 2004 series or adjacent to it. It could even further explain the polarizing and kinda trippy Battlestar Galactica ending. Or it could be a complete reboot with different characters (no Adama, Boomer, Baltar, Athena, Tigh, etc.) but similar themes, a.k.a. mythology. Okay, it’s pointless to speculate because we really know nothing!

Where can you stream old episodes of Battlestar Galactica?

Battlestar Galactica is one of many, many titles that will be available to stream on Peacock, presumably when the service launches in April 2020. It’s actually not clear yet whether or not that includes just the 2004 TV series or the 1978, or potentially both. Odds are they’re referring to the 2004 series, but you never know. Peacock could become the unified home to the entire BSG mythos, old and new.

Where to watch Battlestar Galactica