20 episodes for Caprica, says Verheiden

Battlestar Galactica executive producer Mark Verheiden says that SCI FI Channel ordered 20 episodes of Caprica for early 2010. He also posted this earlier today:

I wrote the first post-pilot episode a few months ago, so I am fairly familiar with the story and I'll just say -- if you enjoyed the challenging and intriguing world of Battlestar Galactica, you'll love Caprica. That said, it's as different from Battlestar's "feel" as you can imagine, dealing with emotional and science-fiction conceits in an entirely different and very adult way...

SCI FI greenlights Caprica for 2010

In a surprise twist, SCI FI has decided that Caprica will be a series after all and not just a TV movie that may or may not see the light of day.

From Variety:

Having already produced a two-hour backdoor pilot, Sci Fi is aiming for an early 2010 bow for the series, with production starting around the middle of next year, probably in Vancouver, where both "Galactica" and the spinoff's pilot were shot.

" 'Battlestar Galactica' was absolutely our flagship show. It put us on the map and helped transform the perception of the network," said Sci Fi prexy Dave Howe, noting that the cabler hopes to draw a broader audience to a series it sees as more compelling family drama than "space opera."

"We want people to come to this who have never heard of 'Battlestar Galactica,' " he added. "I think, because ('Galactica's') backdrop was space and spaceships, there was a barrier to entry for some viewers. 'Caprica' has none of that. It's an intense family drama set on an Earthlike planet, in the near future, speaking to a lot of the ethical dilemmas that we as a human race are going to have to face very shortly."

"Galactica" has had its fourth and final season in the can for several months, with the final 10 episodes culminating their run March 20. A two-hour movie adaptation, "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan," is slated for early summer.

Mark Stern, original programming topper for Sci Fi and Universal Cable Prods., says waiting until 2010 to bow the prequel will give the producers time to regroup the core of "Galactica's" writing staff, which has largely scattered to other shows.

"One of the other things we have going for is, this is one of the first shows we've done in conjunction with our new cable studio," Stern added. "There will be a lot of coordination between the studio and the network, not just on production, but how the series is launched, as well."

Caprica postponed indefinitely?

From TV Guide's Mickey O'Connor:

Though Sci Fi once planned to air Caprica in December, it's now on hold, pending the final episodes of Battlestar Galactica. It definitely won't see the light of day until after the BSG series finale ... but also maybe not at all.

Right, because the SCI FI Channel needed to live up to its name this fall by wasting more time and money on reality shows.

In other words: f*ck.

Sci Fi greenlights Warehouse 13

Sci Fi has given the green light to Warehouse 13, the first of the three pilots expected to go to series next year. The other two, Caprica and Revolution, are still waiting for the same news.

Warehouse 13 goes into production in February. Sci Fi has ordered 11 episodes to go with the two-hour pilot. David Simkins serves as executive producer. He also helped write the pilot, along with Brent Mote and Battlestar Galactica writer Jane Espenson.

Mark Stern, executive vice-president of programming at Sci Fi said: "This is a perfect companion show for Eureka and it fits into our larger agenda of broadening our network."

First Caprica T-shirt at NBC Universal store

Click here for details.

And, since it's September, hopefully we'll hear if Caprica gets picked up for a full season soon.

Cylon creator a cross between Prospero and Bill Gates

Eric Stoltz spoke to iF Magazine about his new show, Blank Slate, and Caprica came up in the interview. Here is the relevant section:

iF: Can you talk about your character in CAPRICA?

STOLTZ: I play Daniel Greystone, a cross between Prospero and Bill Gates, if Bill Gates had a little more money.

iF: It’s been picked up as a full series, hasn’t it? Or is it still waiting for the greenlight from SCI FI?

STOLTZ: I haven't heard a word from them. Your guess is as good as mine.

iF: Are you a fan of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA? How different is it from the original series – it being a prequel and all?

STOLTZ: This is a tricky question. I am indeed a fan of BSG, but CAPRICA really doesn't have much in common with it other than one character who appears as a child in our show and an adult in BSG. There are no space ships, no battles, no constant relentless pursuit. What it shares with BSG is wonderfully rich writing, themes, and characters that are smart and complicated. I hope the BSG fans will enjoy it too, and think of it not so much as a prequel to BSG, but as a distant relative.

iF: If BLANK SLATE did get picked up to series, would that interfere with your role in CAPRICA if that was greenlit, or would you be able to do both?

STOLTZ: I have no idea. Those things are rarely left up to the actors involved.

For the full interview, go here.

Caprica pilot to air on Sky One in November?

Caprica has been picked up by Sky One and will be part of the U.K. web's fall schedule. Sky One has bought the TV rights to the Galactica prequel from NBC Universal International Television Distribution and plans to air the two-hour television movie on Sky1 and Sky1 HD in November 2008.

David Smyth, Head of Acquisitions, Sky1, Sky2, Sky3 said: "Battlestar Galactica has surprised and awed audiences with its distinctive style and gripping story-telling. We're thrilled to have secured exclusive rights to the next chapter of this award-winning franchise."

Galactica producer David Eick recently told Newsarama: “[Caprica] looks great. Everyone seems to be cool with it. There’s been no indication of it being picked up as a series yet, but we are hoping.”

The news about Caprica going to series (or not) and the airdate on the SCI FI Channel in the U.S. is expected to come later this month.