Hi everybody,

Well, I really don't know where to start. I sure you've heard about the news from the Sci-Fi Channel by now but if you haven't please check it out at Scifi.com. The Sci-Fi Channel is exploring the possibility of going ahead with a new Battlestar Galactica series without me or Glen Larson involved. I don't believe any of the other cast members are involved either, but I'm sure you will be hearing more about it in the near future. The big question I'm asking is why? How would it serve a new series to eliminate the characters and story lines that millions of fans fell in love with and have been waiting twenty one years to reunite with.

Recent novels, comic books and appearances by the stars of the show around the world have rekindled a strong resurgence that has been building an ever growing momentum to bring back the show. My company produced a new theatrical style movie trailer which played to standing ovations and created a P. R. buzz that has generated hundreds of recent articles and radio and television interviews. The buzz continues to grow. In addition the Sci-Fi Channel itself has done several polls to test the fans on what they would like to see and the results have been overwhelmingly positive as to bringing back the original cast and storyline.

To continue, the internet became a battlefield and a testing board recently to determine if the fans wanted to follow Glen Larson's version which would move the show several generation down the line, thus eliminating the original cast, and my vision which follows my BG novels which were specifically constructed to relaunch a new series and follows the original stars and a new generation born in space twenty yahren into the future. Our concept was to build a bridge to the future by bringing the audience back to a show they recognize, and than letting actors the audience recognizes and have grown to love, introduce the new characters and obviously updated technologies.

The point is the original premise and characters have barely been explored and the audience is waiting to finally find out what happens to their favorite characters and storylines. So tell me, what could they be thinking and why would they go away from the very thing everybody has been waiting for. If they want to do a new show why not call it by a different name. The fans were disappointed once before when they heard about Galactica 1980 and expected the original premise and characters to return, and felt cheated and manipulated when they didn't. They turned away in droves. Why would anyone go away from what made the show special in the first place. Star Trek: The Next Generation almost went off the air because nobody was interested in seeing the show without their favorite characters. It took multiple appearances by the original stars to get the fans to tune in and finally after three years the show finally took off.

For some reason, executives seem determined to erase the past and remake shows into their own vision. They certainly have the right to do that and I understand the reasoning and mindset, but a new show needs all the help it can get to gain enough time to establish new characters and find interesting new directions. The core audience will give you that time if you don't violate what they have fallen in love with. After re-establishing the core premise, characters and style of a show one can than slowly begin to evolve the story in new and exciting directions, as long as you don't lose the unique spirit and essence of a show.

With all this in mind I would like to share from my heart what I feel about all this and to also bring some additional clarity to my intentions concerning BG. For the past 15 years I have been inquiring about and looking into the possibility of finding a way to bring back BG. The reasons for this are many and I want to clear up some misperceptions, but before I start I would like to share a few insights.

I have acted my entire life but have rarely had the opportunity to act in shows that I really care about or have something meaningful to say. Contrary to what most people think most real actors are not mindless individuals who just want to get rich and famous. They want to be involved in projects that challenge their heart, mind, soul and spirit. They want to feel more alive, explore the human condition, help you the audience laugh, cry, journey to the core of the human spirit. They want to participate in meaningful projects that entertain, and have a lasting impact on the audience. There are exceptions to be sure but the bottom line is actors, writers and directors etc, etc, are communicators. They have a point of view, creative vision, a unique way of seeing and experiencing the world and they desire to share it and in so doing become a more intrical part of this experience called life.

My desire has been the same, to involve myself in projects where I can grow, touch my soul and hopefully inspire others to do the same. Rarely have projects come my way to do that, but I must admit that Battlestar was one such project that did afford me that opportunity. Why? Because Battlestar was about the epic metaphorical journey that we are all on. It's archetypal, it taps deeply into all of us because it's about overcoming the seemingly overwhelming obstacles in life that challenge all of us to go beyond what we think is possible. To find the courage to keep going no matter how difficult things get and somehow find the path that will lead us all home. The deeper mythology and the exploration of the human spirit is what BG is all about. It's not just some dumb sci-fi B movie. Granted the original had some cheesy moments but it was the underlying journey that so deeply touched the audience and created an ever-growing, dedicated and loyal following. The reason I spent the last five years of my life to bringing back this show is not only because of my own love for this show, but because of the all the fans around the world that made me believe I was not alone in seeing the incredible potential of this project.

To tell you the truth, I could not believe that with all the other projects the studios brought back, they overlooked BG. If anyone had ever taken the time to research Battlestar, they would have discovered what most of us already know, that BG was a very successful first year show. It only went off the air because it took too much time to film and the special effects were too costly and expensive at that time. When they attempted to cheapen it with Galactica 1980 they lost the underlying story and characters that made it so successful the first time. It seems no one bothered to ask the fans what they had loved about the show. When I spent my own money to create a trailer for Battlestar I had no idea how involved it would get.

After several meetings at Universal I came to the conclusion that they could not envision how BG would look or play in the nineties, so I decided to show them. A very small little trailer turned in to a huge project as more and more people got involved. I had no idea how many well known artist in the business grew up with Battlestar Galactica. You should have seen the joy on the set when we were putting this together. Everyone was so excited when they found out what we were doing and begged to come on board for free just to have a small part in bringing back the show they had grown up with and loved so much. You have no idea how much we went through and how many times I thought we would never make it, but as we persevered, miracles began to happen. When enough people truly believe in something, anything is possible. People laughed at me and I sure people at the studios thought I was nuts when they learned what we were doing, because they couldn't understand why anyone would go to such lengths to do something when they don't own it.

Sometime I think Hollywood has gotten a little jaded because they have forgotten that the projects that stand the best chance of succeeding are generated from a producer/writer's love and passion for a story and not just the money. I believe in Battlestar and I have a passion and a profound vision for it. I realize I'm not the only one with a vision for this show but in my heart I know what it can be, and it pains me to think that some one may be put in charge of this show who doesn't really love or understand what makes this show work. From the news from the Sci-Fi Channel it seems that they have their own vision for the show and they don't want to honor all the hard work that my team and thousands of other fans have put into researching, marketing and bringing this show back to the attention of the world. We helped create new web sites, gave hundreds of interviews around the world. wrote books, produced a four minute movie style trailer, the list goes on...

We even offered to buy it having raised millions of dollars from major companies who were interested in producing a quality production of Battlestar. The answer was always, we can't make a decision at this time. Universal even refused to listen when we lined up Sony to do a CD-ROM game of BG and they were willing to put up all the money. I also had a company lined up with Universal's approval to do a quality DVD of the movie including remastering it, adding fifteen minutes of additional footage, wrap around interviews from the cast and crew and producing a quality sound track. Right after receiving a letter from them that communicated their excitement about the project they turned around and slapped the movie on a DVD with a mono sound track and delivered it to the marketplace. The audience was disappointed and most refused to buy it leading Universal to say that their was no interest in BG. I don't know how hundreds of thousands of fans of all ages and demographics can be wrong. They want to see the show that never was really given an honest chance to blossom.

I wish the studios could have seen the reaction from fans all over the world both old and young who have given our trailer standing ovations because we managed to capture the heart and essence of Battlestar. We succeeded because we listened to the fans and instead of destroying and remaking the show into our own vision we have built upon the original premise and created a bridge from the past to the future. Anyone reading my BG books knows that we have taken special care to reestablish the original stars and story of the show and than added a new generation born in space. That way a bridge is built so that the fans are introduced to new characters and situations by the actors they have known for twenty years and grown to love.

Star Trek almost made the same mistake when they tried to recast the show and create a new series. The fans protested and they closed down production, hiring back the original cast. The rest was history. It takes a long time to bond with a character and once you do, you feel betrayed when someone just pulls them out on a whim. What bothers me the most is that no one has ever even approached us about this or asked our opinion. We honor the fact that Universal owns BG, but I and my team and fans around the world have kept this show alive and growing for the past twenty years and the least anyone could do is give us a chance to present our well researched vision for the show. I believe we have proved what we are capable of achieving and on a budget which most companies would call impossible. We and the fans are the best asset this show could ask for. There must be a way that we can all come together and create a program that we can all be proud of and give the fans something to cheer about.

We would love to help create or be part of a team of talented writers and producers who truly love this show and know what it is capable of. I wish Glen Larsen believed in the original premise and characters as much as I and all the fans do so we could work together as well, but he like apparently Universal wants to throw away the very things that made Battlestar so special in spite of all the challenges that were thrown against us that first year. All first year shows have problems but the programs that create large followings are the ones that inherently reach out and grab the audience with a strong premise and great stories and characters, in spite of first year flaws. Hopefully, one day soon, someone will wake up and realize that you don't destroy what works about a show, you just expand upon it and improve it. Universal and the Sci-Fi Channel are run by experienced and intelligent executives. I'm sure they understand what needs to be done, but if not, then to whomever produces the new Battlestar Galactica I wish well, but I -- and a legion of fans both old and new -- will have trouble supporting a new show that doesn't care about, or listen to, what we have to say, feel or think.

There are so few good shows. Battlestar could be one of the best and most successful Sci-Fi franchises ever. I hope Universal and the Sci-Fi Channel wake up before it is too late. Paramount did and look what happened. Let the Sci-Fi Channel know how you feel about all this so there is no mistake about how every body feels about this situation. Remember we love you all and give thanks for your trust in us and your support. We couldn't have done it without you. Long live Galactica!

Until next time,
Richard Hatch

PS. I forgot to mention that I'm starring in a new movie with Michael Madsen and Brad Dourif called "The Ghost" It'll be out this year. In addition I signed a deal to represent a new company called Global Trek for three years. Check out GlobalTrak.com to see my new commercial. The technology is awesome. In regards to my companies new Sci-Fi project "The Great War of Magellan," we are almost finished after a year in production. We will be showing a very recently completed behind the scenes and mini trailer version at our next convention in February 2001. (This is not the one we played at our last con.) Check out my calendar for dates and locations.

Original Alert and Information
Sci-Fi Channel Statements
Richard "Apollo" Hatch Statement
Jack "Bojay" Stauffer Editorial and Update
Bryan Singer Story

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