SciFi Unveils "Battlestar" Prequel And Other New Projects

Praise the Gods! The SciFi Channel announced the development of a slew of new projects.

First - and most importantly to "Battlestar Galactica" fans - is "Caprica," a spin-off prequel from executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick and writer Remi Aubuchon ("24"). "Caprica" will take place more than fifty years before the events that play out in the "Battlestar Galactica" series. The people of the Twelve Colonies are at peace and living in a society not unlike our own, but where high technology has changed the lives of virtually everyone for the better. Of course, a startling new breakthrough in robotics and artificial intelligence brings about the first living robot - the Cylon. The prequel will tell the story of two families, the Graystones and the Adamas (the family of William and Lee Adama, the leaders of the "Battlestar" Colonial fleet).

Next up is the eight hour series, "Motel Man," airing in December. The SciFi Channel is billing it as a cross between "The Fugitive" and "The Twilight Zone" and follows "a detective who discovers a seemingly ordinary motel room key that opens up a portal to alternate worlds, infusing mundane objects with mysterious powers." Not that I have any idea what all that means. The SciFi Channel hasn't ruled out that "Motel Man" could eventually turn into a regular series.

Next, a one-hour thriller called "Snap." Jesse Alexander ("Lost" and "Alias") will produce the film about "a federal agent up against a Big Brother-type artificial intelligence." Enough said? I guess so. That's all the information released so far.

Finally, there's "Chariots of the Gods." It's a six-hour mini-series based on the best-selling book by Erich von Daniken. It will be executive-produced by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler and written by John Whelpley. The book introduced the theory that Earth was visited by extraterrestrials in ancient times. The mini-series centers on a soldier returning from his tour of duty, who brings with him an artifact that holds the key to uncovering the secret that aliens have been interfering with human genetics. Rob Cowan ("The Shipping News" and "De-Lovely") and David Winkler ("Finding Graceland") also will executive-produce.

Phew! I know I'm psyched. Honestly, if everything else on the slate turns out to as sub par as "Mammoth," I'd be happy as long as "Caprica" holds up to "Battlestar" production standards. -- Shannon Nolley

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