It’s hard to overstate what a game-changing successStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hopewas when it was released for the first time in theaters in the summer of 1977. WhileJawshad essentially created the “summer blockbuster” modeltwo years prior,George Lucas’ adventure epic was a novelty in that it was based entirely on an original idea. The film also belonged to the science fiction genre, which had been considered “dead” for many years in Hollywood. The extraordinary success ofStar Warsled to the resurgence of space operas,paving the way forshows likeBattlestar Galacticato exist.
First premiering in 1978,Battlestar Galacticawasan epic space adventurethat took place in the distant future, where a group of human survivors live on the titular spacecraft while in search of a new home. Although civilization has reformed and the ship is equipped with many brave pilots, theGalacticais hunted down by the merciless Cylons, a group of sentient robots intent on destroying humanity. With its memorable characters, incredible technical prowess, and inventive action sequences,Battlestar Galacticawas a perfect treat for Star Wars fans who were waiting three long years forThe Empire Strikes Backto hit theaters. However,20th Century Fox felt thatBattlestar Galacticawas too similar toStar Wars,and filed a lawsuitagainst Universal.
Battlestar Galactica
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
‘Battlestar Galactica’ Did Have Many Similarities to Star Wars
Battlestar Galacticawas conceived byGlen A. Larson,who claimed in court documentsthat the idea for the series had first come to him in the late 1960s while he was working on adventure shows such asThe Fall GuyandThe Fugitive. On a narrative level, Star WarsandBattlestar Galacticawere fairly distinct;Star Warswas framed as a piece of mythology that took place in a galaxy far, far away, whileBattlestar Galacticaserved as a dire warning about the evils of technology. However, Fox felt thatBattlestar Galacticahad “spoiled” the market for science fiction programming.According toJ.W. Rinzler’snonfiction bookThe Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas’ frustration withBattlestar Galacticastemmed froma dispute with visual effects supervisor John Dykstra.
Dykstra was an inventive artist for Industrial Lights and Magic who had contributed to the unique aesthetics of the originalStar Warsfilm; unlikethe polished, slick look of science fiction classicslikeForbidden PlanetorThe Wars of the Worlds,Star Warsexisted in a grungy, worn-down universe where the technology had been deteriorating after years of use.Lucas felt that Dykstra had utilized the same design techniques forStar WarsonBattlestar Galactica,and did not invite him to work onThe Empire Strikes Back. Merchandising was also a matter of concern. Fox had generated significant profits from the action figures, games, and models inspired by the firstStar Warsmovie, which Lucas owned the rights to; due to the similarities,Lucas grew concernedthat consumers would confuseBattlestar Galacticamerchandise forStar Warstoys.
Fox’s lawsuit also pointed to several key plot similarities betweenStar WarsandBattlestar Galactica.Battlestar Galacticafeatured a young heroine, Cassiopeia (Laurette Spang-McCook), who was imprisoned by evil totalitarian forces; Fox felt this was too similar to the role that Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) inhabited in the originalStar Wars. Similarly, a moment where the crew of theGalacticaenjoys a musical performance by an alien band was thought to be too derivative of the famous Mos Eisley cantina sequence.Battlestar Galactica’s dogfight action sequences were also broadly similar to theDeath Starassault, as both properties featured pilots using signature callsigns that evoked comparisonsto classic World War II adventure films.
‘Battlestar Galactica’ Survived the Fox Lawsuit
While Fox managed to present the overarching similarities between the two projects, the court was convinced thatStar Warswas an entirely original project.Universal was also successful in pointing out thatStar Warswas very derivative of many classic science fiction projects, including the 1972 filmSilent Runningand the adventure serialBuck Rogers. Lucas had admitted to being inspired by the classic serialFlash Gordon, and had briefly consideredpurchasing the rights to make an adaptation.The issue was ultimately resolved without trialafter Fox dismissed the copyright claims in 1980.
Larson had fought hard to prove that his series was worth considering as its own unique project, butBattlestar Galacticawas canceled quickly after its first season.High production costs led ABC to develop the low-budget spin-offGalactica 1980, which also performed poorly and was canceled after only airing ten episodes. While the original shows never lived up to their potential, they earned a passionate cult following among science fiction buffs, many of whom wereStar Warsfans. This ledBattlestar Galacticato eventually have a successful rebootin 2004 fromStar Trek: The Next GenerationwriterRonald D. Moore.
Ironically,Battlestar Galacticamay have benefited fromStar Wars' popularity yet again in the early 21st century.Despite divisive reviews,Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceproved that audiences were still interested in space epics, perhaps indirectly enabling the SYFY network to move forward with itsBattlestar Galacticareboot. With a bigger budget, characters with more depth, and a clear narrative direction, theBattlestar Galacticareboot managed to supersede its predecessor in every way.
While they were both seen as “escapist entertainment,”both theBattlestar Galacticareboot and theStar Warsprequel trilogy were more expressly political in nature.Battlestar Galacticawas one of the first major drama shows that addressed post-9/11 concerns about sleeper cells, the war on terrorism, and foreign occupation; similarly, Lucas used the prequel trilogy to analyze how a democracycould turn into a totalitarian dictatorship.
Battlestar Galacticais streaming on Prime Video in the U.S.
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