Prime Video's Canceled Sci-Fi Reboot Would Have Filled The Void Left By Battlestar Galactica

It's been 17 years since the Battlestar Galactica reboot came to a close, and we just lost our chance at finally filling that void. While the original BSG ran from 1978 to 1979, a wholly reimagined series aired from 2004 to 2009. The foundational elements of these shows were largely the same, including the core premise, several character names, and the overarching plot involving a robot apocalypse. This naturally meant fans of the original Battlestar Galactica were pretty thrilled to get the 2004 version, though it came with a twist.

The Battlestar Galactica reboot series came with a significant shift in format and tone. Rather than a traditional episodic sci-fi series, the 2004 series featured a continuous narrative arc spanning its entire four seasons. This allowed the BTS reboot to get a bit more serious. Themes were heavier, the audience's connection to the characters was stronger, and the story's longevity improved. Of course, it still had to come to an end.

In many ways, Battlestar Galactica demonstrated the right way to do a reboot. It wasn't done just for the sake of it—the new series had its own value without trampling on the legacy of the original. It's an approach few other franchises have taken to the same effect, though we almost got a similar product with Stargate. A new 'reboot' series was on the way, but was unfortunately canceled before it really got off the ground. It's a real shame, since what little information we have about the project suggests it would have been something exceptional.

Prime Video's Scrapped Stargate Series Could've Been The Best Reboot Since BSG

The planned Stargate show wasn't supposed to be a reboot in the way we typically think of it in the world of entertainment. Michael Shanks explained at a fan convention (via Gateworld) that he was supposed to return to play Daniel Jackson in the new Stargate series, suggesting it would be more of a sequel. Since the series never came to be, we can't know exactly what the plan was here. However, David Read from the YouTube channel Dial of the Gate explained that he had received some information about the series from Shanks and his team.

Shanks and Read have teamed up to co-host and produce a Stargate episode rewatch podcast, so information about what was supposed to be the fourth Stargate series was exchanged. Reportedly (via Dial of the Gate), this Stargate reboot would have been set in an alternate reality in which the SGC was never established. SG-1's Daniel Jackson (Shanks) would appear in this Earth's orbit within a mysterious spaceship, presumably trying to get back home to his reality.

This would essentially make the canceled Stargate show a sequel and a reboot in one, since the whole concept of the SGC would have to be reestablished. Additionally, with this new premise, the fourth Stargate series would have likely put aside the more traditional episodic planet-of-the-week structure. It's really the sort of idea that could have worked, especially considering Battlestar Galactica's success. A darker tone, a meaningful continuation, a modern approach to the more classic side of the sci-fi genre—this really could have been wonderful.

We Need A Modern Stargate More Than Yet Another Battlestar Galactica Reboot

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It appears that the Stargate reboot series was canceled because Amazon MGM Studios wasn't confident that there was strong enough audience interest. Given the profound disappointment that followed not just the reveal that the show wasn't happening, but also the news that it would have starred Shanks, it could be concluded that Amazon was mistaken. Unfortunately, that isn't changing anything as of yet. The new Stargate isn't happening, but, apparently, another Battlestar Galactica reboot is.

A new Battlestar Galactica was announced in 2019 by Peacock, but the streamer dropped the project in 2024. Still, it isn't as dead as the fourth Stargate series is. Executive producer Sam Esmail and Universal Content Productions are still actively shopping the project, so it very well could come to be. This is, just, fine. We've already had a Battlestar Galactica reboot, but it could be interesting to get more. Still, if we had to pick, it would make much more sense to get a modern Startgate series. We've been waiting long enough—BSG can get back in line.

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  Battlestar Galactica

  

  9/10

  Release Date 2004 - 2009-00-00

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    Edward James Olmos

    William Adama

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    Mary McDonnell

    Laura Roslin

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  Stargate SG-1

  Release Date 1997 - 2007-00-00

  Showrunner Brad Wright

  Directors Martin Wood, Andy Mikita, William Waring, Bill Gereghty, David Warry-Smith, Brad Turner, Mario Philip Azzopardi, William Gereghty, Peter F. Woeste, Dennis Berry, Ken Girotti, Charles Correll, Jonathan Glassner, Robert C. Cooper, Allan Eastman, Bill Corcoran, Jeff Woolnough, Jim Kaufman, Allan Lee, Amanda Tapping

  Writers Dean Devlin, Damian Kindler, Katharyn Powers, Alan McCullough, Jeff King, Christopher Judge, Terry Curtis Fox, Martin Gero, Carl Binder, Hart Hanson, James Tichenor, Jarrad Paul, Tom J. Astle, Ben Browder, Corin Nemec, David Rich, Jacqueline Samuda, John Sanborn, Michael Shanks, Sam Egan, Alex Levine, James Taylor Phillips

  Franchise(s) Stargate

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    Amanda Tapping

    Samantha Carter

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