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Edward James Olmos: Why Battlestar Galactica: The Plan will surprise you
First Edward James Olmos told a panel of fans that the final Battlestar Galactica telefilm, The Plan, would be exactly what they expect: The two-hour movie shows the events of the series from the perspective of the Cylons. Now Olmos—who directed the film and appears as Adama—says it will be a surprise.
"What their plan was, I think that's a big surprise," Olmos said in an exclusive interview last week at the Saturn Awards in Burbank, Calif., where he won an award for best actor on television. "Finding out what the plan was and how it was structured and how close they were to completing it."
Boomer/Athena/Number Eight actress Grace Park joined Olmos in previewing The Plan. "[There is more than] the obvious, which is what was the Cylon perspective," Park said after accepting the Saturn for best actress on television on behalf of Mary McDonnell. "If they had a plan, what their plan was, what it entailed. I think besides that, [The Plan shows] probably how alike or unlike humans they really are."
Dean Stockwell takes a leading role in The Plan as John Cavil, whose part turns out to be bigger in the Cylon story than it may have appeared in the run of the series. "Dean is definitely the person who masterminded the entire event," Olmos revealed.
Olmos also praised Park's performance. "This woman should probably win everything possible," he said. "Her performance in The Plan is one of the most exquisite pieces of work on the film. You'll be very happy with your work."
This was news to Park. "Really, thank you, Eddie," Park said. "It's because you were directing us. Every time Eddie directs ..."
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan will air on SCI FI in the fall, with a DVD release that includes an extended cut.
By Muldfeld at 11:36 AM ON 06/30/09
Aw, man! I can't wait for the extended cut DVD! I really hope it comes out in September and not November, but I'm so glad to get more BSG, especially with someone directing who can infuse scenes with extra texture -- as Michael Rymer does -- rather than the lousy Felix Alcala, whose episodes I detested. I need more, though. Universal should have given the go-ahead to at least 3 TV movies. Now there's no more Battlestar Galactica set pieces and everything has to be constructed from scratch. Huge mistake. I wouldn't have minded waiting 8 months between the release of each one if that's what they were afraid of.
Then again, maybe this will give the writers more time to come up with fresh ideas, as Season 4 was so lacking in texture, political commentary, and far too rushed. I was very disappointed that the finale didn't drive home the point of the show about the cycle of violence with "the other" -- which we on earth have repeated again and again -- rather than the cycle of creating sentient life -- which is quite hard to relate to. I suspect it was to give the ending a hopeful note -- because humans haven't created artificial intelligence yet, but it seemed a bogus and uninteresting summation of the series and a far less important warning to viewers about how they should treat people in other countries and communities.
I'm most excited about "The Plan" because it will humanize the cylons more -- since Simon was never defined really and Doral and Leoben and Boomer got the short shrift after Season 1. Can't fracking wait!
By Michael L at 11:37 AM ON 06/30/09
I hope there is more to come in the Galactica universe
By yokozuka at 12:36 PM ON 06/30/09
yeah!!...I know it´s gonna be awesome!!...Olmos directed a couple of episodes from the show:¨Islanded in a Stream of Stars¨,
¨Escape Velocity¨,¨Taking a Break from All Your Worries¨, ¨Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down¨, some of them are very intense and sexual, and in this case he had more freedom, which means that there´s gonna be some real SEX and NUDITY in it for sure!...Specially on the Unrated DVD! (xD)
By Spacejockey at 1:51 PM ON 06/30/09
"The Plan" should be interesting, no question. CAPRICA was fascinating, and I look forward to more of it . . . But there is another aspect of the BSG story that has yet to be explored, is rife with possibilites, and steeped in mystery . . .
How about a series devoted to the story of the Lords of Kobol? Who were they and how did they come to be? How and why did they come to be so revered, nee worshipped by the colonies they founded?
Does anyone else agree that that could be a compelling story?
By Michael L at 4:05 PM ON 06/30/09
Totally agree with Spacejockey
By cas at 5:05 PM ON 06/30/09
@spacejockey. My take is you SAW the lords of Kobol, or at least their "reps": head six/head baltar. Post physical race guiding the younger siblings.
By Gringo at 5:58 PM ON 06/30/09
That is one show I miss ,I wish it was still on.
By henry at 7:13 PM ON 06/30/09
they should make a movie in the end you can go anywhere
By SkeeFee at 7:22 PM ON 06/30/09
I'm excited about BSG: The Plan in great part because it was written by Jane Espenson.
By Kaitlin at 12:31 PM ON 07/01/09
I kind of wish that The Plan would have aired sooner. I want it on the first edition's of the complete series of BSG.
By Muldfeld at 1:12 PM ON 07/01/09
Actually, Kaitlin, I'm happy it didn't and it's also why I'm not buying the complete series. See, Moore and Eick really should put out more extended versions of episodes. Episodes like Season 1's "Water" should include the deleted scene of Baltar explaining why water burst from the tank; Season 2's "Resurrection Ship" should include the deleted scene of Lee Adama explaining to Dualla why he's depressed and how the Pegasus isn't that different from Galactica (The inspiration for Adm. Adama's explanation to Lee in "Razor".); Season 3's "A Measure of Salvation" just isn't the same without the deleted scenes in which Starbuck confronts Leoben and in which Athena shows some doubt about abetting to genocide; and Season 4 itself is replete with spots that demand fuller episodes, especially "Blood on the Scales" and "Deadlock". So, I'd rather give them a commercial reason to extend many episodes, even if that means redoing a complete series DVD set or just releasing new versions of each season set.
It's also essential that fans buy "The Plan" on its own to encourage Universal to make more BSG TV movies.
By Rob at 9:42 AM ON 07/04/09
Wake up people. Battlestar Galactica is dead.
By boris at 10:50 PM ON 07/17/09
i have to say that i have missed looking forward to battlestar each week. i would have friends burn DVDS for me while i was in Iraq and Afgan. i was a huge fan when the first TV series was on in the late 70's. so all the true hard core fans can piss and moan over this and that, im just looking forward to seeing more BSG. and hope that who ever has the power to keep BSG going, does.
boris
By FredDaCat at 3:11 AM ON 10/30/09
Loved "The Plan"... was however caught off guard with the brief nudity... Have a 12 year old fan in the house and not to sound prudish but would have like a warning.
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FredDaCat:
Loved "The Plan"... was however caught off guard with the brief nudity... Have a 12 year old fan in the house and ...More »