HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

The original theatrical version of Battlestar Galactica, now available on impressive 4K UHD.

It started off as an idea for a smaller scale space hippy-ish science fiction series called Adam's Ark in the late sixties, then thankfully went on to become something bigger, greater, more spectacular and more resonating with audiences by the time it metamorphosed into Battlestar Galactica by 1978, following in the post cinematic arrival of Star Wars. Creator Glen A. Larson's finest series continues on in its titular spaceship's journey for sanctuary and strength looking for that shiny, long lost planet called Earth. And its beloved fans worldwide continue to enjoy every aspect of that very special singular season journey and the characters within it (especially its visual effects and designs from so many of the talented team headed by the original Star Wars US special effects veteran John Dykstra)...

And even now, the show is still attracting new UK TV audiences and appreciation, what with another classic run airing on digital TV during these past few months of 2023...

For more on the series, check out this great site: 

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SAGA OF A STAR WORLD

HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

'STAR WARS REBELS': 'THE GHOST' OF 'GALACTICA'?

As the main focal point of the first season and beyond, life for the people of the planet Lothal is not so good under the thumb of the Empire. So thank the Force that the heroes of Star Wars Rebels are around to help out, breaking the Imperial-controlled space lanes to help where possible via their nimble vessel, The Ghost, as seen in this lovely production painting art for the series by Andre Kirk.

A similar design to The Ghost from 1978's Battlestar Galactica. Image: Universal.

I always thought that The Ghost looked familiar, however, before its Rebels debut. And then I remembered the works of Joe Johnston and Ralph McQuarrie in designing vehicles not just for Star Wars but also the original 1978/79 version of Battlestar Galactica. Sure enough, a similar ship design appears on a technical schematic during the opening episode, Saga of a Star World. It may also have been a prior design idea, perhaps, for the Millennium Falcon back in late 1975, before it became the familiar 'flying hamburger' we know and love.

If anyone has any more info on this, please get in touch...

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

Fresh from their success on creating the incredible effects work for the original Star Wars, it now seems hard to believe but the majority of the young and innovative ILM team led by John Dykstra were out of work by the early Summer of 1977, before the film's impactful release. Thankfully, a whole spate of sci-fi projects would follow in the wake of the George Lucas phenomenon, needing the top quality effects work that the film had unleashed. First out of the gate would be Star Worlds, later named Galactica, then finally Battlestar Galactica- the small screen space epic by Glen A. Larson crafted for ABC TV. As the likes of (an unhappy) Joe Johnston and Ralph McQuarrie handled the visual design, so too did Dykstra (here with Doug Smith (wearing a classic in-house produced Star Wars T-shirt) and the model of the Galactica) importantly become one of the series early producers on the first five episodes (including the opening three hour (three-part) pilot which would also become an international theatrical release success).

Battlestar Galactica celebrates its 40th Anniversary today. Though the original series was ultimately despised by Lucas and Twentieth Century Fox for being too similar to their franchise, it's interesting to note that everyone would go on to adore the gritty and downright depressing modern remake of the noughties, developed by Ronald D. Moore, especially writer/director Rian Johnson, who'd cite it as a key influence on some of the tone of his eventual EPISODE VIII!

Anniversary feature:
https://kooltvblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-quest-for-survival-battlestar.html

https://galacticasagaofastarworld.blogspot.com/

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA! 

ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: WHEN 'STAR WARS' MET 'GALACTICA'

1978- the amazing time when the epic sci-fi/fantasy universes of the two GL's - George Lucas and Glen Larson - met via the model shop of the Van Nuys ILM facility, with STAR WARS having been completed, and the majority of the crew now working on the pilot episode/opening two-parters of the subsequent BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TV series (model builder Jon Erland can be seen in the background). Note the original SW Star Destroyer model on one side of the photo, and a Colonial Viper and the Galactica itself on the other.

More on ILM/APOGEE's work: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SAGA OF A STAR WORLD: APOGEE

HAPPY 35th, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

Born from the success of STAR WARS, 1978's TV odyssey BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Image: UNIVERSAL.

Still fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, the mighty Battlestar Galactica, created by Glen A. Larson and visualised by so many of the talented ILM/APOGEE personnel of the time (including John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Joe Johnston and Ralph McQuarrie), celebrates its Thirty-Fifth anniversary today- its epic search for the legendary Thirteenth Tribe on the "shiny planet known as Earth" continuing to be enjoyed by fans old and new worldwide.

KOOL TV feature: "BY YOUR COMMAND!" CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF CLASSIC 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'

SAGA OF A STAR WORLD website: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - SAGA OF A STAR WORLD

Get hold of the lovely DREAMS AND VISIONS PRESS Ralph McQuarrie GALACTICA art portfolio here: Battlestar Galactica 35th Anniversary Portfolio - Ralph McQuarrie

CLASSIC 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA' - COMING TO UK BLU-RAY

The search for the lost Thirteenth Tribe of humanity, located on the faraway planet of Earth, continues for the heroes of the classic BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TV series from 1978, created by Glen A. Larson in the wake of STAR WARS worldwide success, and brought to visual effects reality by those stellar pioneers from the original ILM, headed up by John Dykstra, with designs from Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston.

The Blu-ray of the series epic pilot, originally released in truncated form theatrically in England, Europe and Canada, finally makes it way to UK shores in a well-deserved Blu-ray release this October from UNIVERSAL, as the series celebrates its 35th Anniversary. Check out the review on our sister site: KOOL TV: KOOL TV REVIEW: 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA' - THE 1978 THEATRICAL MOVIE (BLU-RAY)

Get hold of it here: Battlestar Galactica Blu-ray 1978 Region Free: Amazon.co.uk: Lorne Greene, Dirk Benedict, Ray Milland, Jane Seymour, Richard Hatch, Terry Carter, Maren Jensen, Noah Hathaway, Tony Swartz, Lew Ayres, John Colicos, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Ed Begley Jr, Richard A. Colla, Donald P. Bellisario: Film & TV