Sunday, February 8th, 2009
By Michael Knox, mknox@modernfilmzine.com
“Caprica,” the prequel to the popular SCI FI Channel show, “Battlestar Galactica” will see a feature length release on DVD before producers launch the actual television show.
Universal Cable Productions will begin production on the “Caprica” series in the summer of 2009 in Vancouver for a 2010 television premiere on the SCI FI Channel, but an exclusive DVD will be released on April 21, according to a news release.
The feature-length prequel of “Caprica” will be available on DVD as a limited-edition uncut and unrated version before the series’ broadcast premiere on the SCI FI Channel in 2010.
Set 50 years before “Battlestar Galactica,” the story of “Caprica” follows two rival families and their patriarchs – Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) and Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) – as they compete and thrive in the vibrant world of the 12 Colonies, a society recognizably close to our own. Enmeshed in the burgeoning technology of artificial intelligence and robotics that will eventually lead to the creation of the Cylons, the two houses go toe-to-toe blending action with corporate conspiracy and sexual politics.
“Caprica” is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Remi Aubuchon (“24″).
Exclusive bonus features that take viewers behind the scenes of the creation of Caprica make this DVD a landmark event for any fan of “Battlestar Galactica.” The film will also be available at selected online destinations for digital download transactions.
“Battlestar Galactica” wraps its final season on SCI FI on March 20, just before the DVD release of “Caprica.”
“Caprica “is a world at the peak of its power, grappling with new science and technologies and the issues they create, according to a news release. The series will star Golden Globe nominee Eric Stoltz (“Pulp Fiction“), Esai Morales (“Jericho,” “NYPD Blue“), Paula Malcomson (“Deadwood” “ER”) and Golden Globe(nominee Polly Walker (“Cane,” “Rome”).
“Ever since fans first caught wind of the ‘Battlestar Galactica’ prequel ‘Caprica,’ they have been eagerly following its development,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Original Programming for SCI FI & Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.
“We wanted to give them a chance to see the pilot in its original form and experience the prequel to the ["Battlestar Galactica"] story while that series’ finale was still ringing in their ears.,” Stern said. “It also affords the creative team an unprecedented chance to get viewers feedback before production on the ‘Caprica’ series begins this summer.”
Ronald D. Moore, Executive Producer/Writer for “Battlestar Galactica” said he’s confident fans will like this new show.
“If ‘Battlestar Galactica’ offered us a way to shatter the conventions of space opera, Caprica will be a show which will challenge the conventions of science fiction storytelling as a whole,” Moore said.
Executive producer David Eick agreed.
“Part sweeping soap, part meditation on the dangerous moral ramifications of artificial intelligence, this is a truly unique opportunity to continue telling stories which will be as daring and shocking as the best of ‘Galactica’” Eick said. “And yet will be altogether different from ‘Galactica.’”
