Caprica to premiere on DVD and digital download on April 21

Caprica, the highly anticipated prequel to "Battlestar Galactica," will enjoy its world premiere exclusively on DVD on April 21, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. In a groundbreaking move sure to delight fans of the long-running television phenomenon, the feature-length prequel 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. 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.




As "Battlestar Galactica" wraps its gripping final season on SCI FI on March 20, 2009, Caprica begins a brand new epic saga that continues the franchise's commitment to thought-provoking storytelling and extraordinary characters. Set over 50 years before the events of "Battlestar Galactica," Caprica is a world at the peak of its power, grappling with new science and technologies and the issues they create. The series will star Golden Globe nominee Eric Stoltz (Mask, Pulp Fiction), Esai Morales ("Jericho," "NYPD Blue"), Paula Malcomson ("Deadwood" "ER") and Golden Globe® nominee Polly Walker ("Cane," "Rome") in a story laced with passion, intrigue and family conflict.



"We are thrilled to take the groundbreaking step of offering the world-premiere of the Caprica feature-length extended pilot episode on DVD prior to the new series' television debut," said Hilary Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Brand and Digital Marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "This innovative distribution model will serve to satisfy 'Battlestar Galactica' fans' appetites for a new content while building excitement for the franchise's next great adventure."

"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 BSG story while that series' finale was still ringing in their ears. It also affords the creative team an unprecedented chance to get viewers feedback before production on the Caprica series begins this summer."

"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," said Ronald D. Moore, Executive Producer/Writer.

"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' -- and yet will be altogether different from 'Galactica,'" said David Eick, Executive Producer.

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. The DVD of Caprica is priced at $26.98 S.R.P. Preorder close is March 3, 2009.

BONUS FEATURES:
• Feature Commentary with Director Jeffrey Reiner and Executive Producer/Writer Ronald D. Moore and Executive Producer David Eick
• Deleted Scenes
• Video Blogs
• What the Frak is Caprica?
• The Director's Process
• The V Club
• The Birth of a Cylon

SYNOPSIS
Set 50 years before Battlestar Galactica, 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.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Street Date: April 21, 2009
Pre-Order Close: March 3, 2009
Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $26.98
Selection Number: 61109037
Running Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
Layers: Dual Layer
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Rating: Not rated.
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1



www.CapricaDVD.com

Caprica feature-length pilot to premiere on DVD on April 21

Caprica, the highly anticipated prequel to Battlestar Galactica, will enjoy its world premiere exclusively on DVD on April 21, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. In a groundbreaking move sure to delight fans of the long-running television phenomenon, the feature-length prequel 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.

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.

As Battlestar Galactica wraps its gripping final season on SCI FI on March 20, 2009, Caprica begins a brand new epic saga that continues the franchise's commitment to thought-provoking storytelling and extraordinary characters. Set over 50 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, Caprica is a world at the peak of its power, grappling with new science and technologies and the issues they create. The series will star Golden Globe nominee Eric Stoltz (Mask, Pulp Fiction), Esai Morales (Jericho, NYPD Blue), Paula Malcomson (Deadwood, ER) and Golden Globe nominee Polly Walker (Cane, Rome) in a story laced with passion, intrigue and family conflict.

"We are thrilled to take the groundbreaking step of offering the world-premiere of the Caprica feature-length extended pilot episode on DVD prior to the new series' television debut," said Hilary Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Brand and Digital Marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "This innovative distribution model will serve to satisfy Battlestar Galactica fans' appetites for a new content while building excitement for the franchise's next great adventure."

"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 BSG story while that series' finale was still ringing in their ears. It also affords the creative team an unprecedented chance to get viewers feedback before production on the Caprica series begins this summer."

"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," said Ronald D. Moore, Executive Producer/Writer.

"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 -- and yet will be altogether different from Galactica," said David Eick, Executive Producer.

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. The DVD of Caprica is priced at $26.98 S.R.P. Preorder close is March 3, 2009.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Feature Commentary with Director Jeffrey Reiner and Executive Producer/Writer Ronald D. Moore and Executive Producer David Eick
• Deleted Scenes
• Video Blogs

o What the Frak is Caprica?
o The Director's Process
o The V Club
o The Birth of a Cylon

SYNOPSIS

Set 50 years before Battlestar Galactica, 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.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Street Date: April 21, 2009

Pre-Order Close: March 3, 2009

Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Price: $26.98

Selection Number: 61109037

Running Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes

Layers: Dual Layer

Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1

Rating: Not rated.

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

www.CapricaDVD.com

Jane Espenson talks about Caprica

Jane Espenson talked to io9.com about Dollhouse, the Buffy comic book, Battlestar webisodes, and Caprica. The interview is here.

Is there any chance you could just do a funny horror/science fiction comic every month? In your spare time? It seems like all your writing projects lately are more serious.

Spare time is starting to seem like something I imagined once. But when you see my episode of Dollhouse, I think you'll see that there's still some funny going on. And — you heard it here first — Caprica is absolutely going to have moments that will benefit from a very light touch.

Congrats on becoming the showrunner at Caprica. Do you get a lot of input in crafting the first-season character arcs in Caprica, as the showrunner? How much of that stuff was already in place when you came on board?

I'm pleased to say that I will have a lot of input in crafting season one of Caprica. Ron is still the ultimate king of us, and I hope that doesn't change, but I will be getting a lot of my ideas in there. We also have an amazing staff — Michael Taylor, John Zinman and Patrick Massett, Kath Lingenfelter, Matt Roberts and Ryan Mottesheard — and they will be contributing mightily.

The thing that intrigues me most about Caprica, from what I've read so far, is the idea that these super-powerful robots, the Cylons, actually come out of human grief. Does this give you the chance to look at the Cylons in a whole new light?

Oh, yes, of course. Caprica is going to shed light on the Cylons, of course, but also on the history and culture and beliefs and prejudices and lives of the human colonists. This is great rich material. All that, plus strong characters and at least ten flavors of conflict — it's the coolest thing ever.

The Sci Fi Channel and Ronald D. Moore have both talked about the hope that Caprica will reach more female viewers. Do you feel a lot of pressure to make it more female-friendly? Or, conversely, does that open up opportunities to do different types of stories?

Huh. I like this question. It has never occurred to me that I would write different types of stories to attract women viewers. Maybe there is some truth to the idea that war stories traditionally held less appeal for women since it wasn't a real-life arena in which women were well-represented, but even that has to be changing, don't you think? Isn't a good story pretty universal? At any rate, the stories on Caprica are simply going to kick ass and I certainly expect some of that ass to be female.

Caprica gets a showrunner: Jane Espenson

Jane Espenson, writer and co-executive producer on Battlestar Galactica, will be taking on the same duties on Caprica and eventually take over as showrunner, writes Chicago Tribune. When the writers meet in February to work on the first season, Ron Moore will be still be at the helm. Espenson is expected to take over halfway through the season.

Other Galactica veterans who have joined the new crew are composer Bear McCreary, production designer Richard Hudolin and special effects supervisor Gary Hutzel. Espenson says that BSG writers Michael Taylor and Ryan Mottesheard will also soon be joining them in the writers' room.

Espenson has a long list of television credits which include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, The Inside, Tru Calling, Dollhouse and Warehouse 13. She came on board Galactica for the third season and has since also written the recent BSG webisodes, The Face of the Enemy, and the upcoming movie, The Plan.

Asked about the differences between Caprica and Battlestar, she said: "I think it will certainly be different, but it's like a different garment made from the same fabric. The beating heart of it will be the same -- complex moral situations, high stakes, compelling characters. Robots."

And speaking of robots, Gary Hutzel, the new visual effects supervisor, told LA Times what we can expect to see on Caprica:

Moving from "Battlestar" to "Caprica," is the process easier for you?

Because we've been doing the robot centurions for years it's ... well, "Caprica's" more robot-heavy for us. There's a lot more development of the Cylon robots. We also have a lot of environmental stuff to do.

Some of the things are similar in that there's still the element of terrorism taking place. "Caprica" is much more on the nose, much more literal when it comes to talking about those things....

The worlds in effect are allegories for the countries and they're very clear-cut.... "Caprica" is the jewel of the planets. "Caprica" is the United States.

Caprica starts shooting in July for an early 2010 premiere.

Bear McCreary is scoring Caprica

Battlestar composer Bear McCreary confirmed the other week that he is recording the score for the Caprica pilot and will stay in charge of the music on Caprica for the entire season.

"The score, like the tone of new series, is quite different from Galactica," he wrote on his blog. "I am introducing a new ensemble, soloists and distinct musical themes, expanding the sonic boundaries of the Battlestar universe, while still keeping the soul of the score connected to my previous work. And don’t worry… Chris Bleth, MB Gordy, Paul Cartwright and the other unique musicians who play on Galactica are on board as well."

McCreary's other recent credits include Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Eureka.

Exclusive Caprica clip up at SCIFI.com

SCI FI has posted a new video from the Caprica pilot at http://video.scifi.com/player/?id=907641

It's a scene with Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) and his late daughter's friend Lacy (Magda Apanowicz) in a virtual nightclub, right before he meets the avatar of his daughter Zoe for the first time. 

Caprica script posted online

The other day, SpoilerTV posted links to a bunch of scripts for the pilots of some of the most anticipated new shows, including Virtuality, Castle, Cupid, Lie to Me and Caprica. 

You can find them in this post.