The Battlestar Galactica that might have been

SAN DIEGO — At the 30th Anniversary Battlestar Galactica panel at Comic-Con International, “X-Men” producer Tom DeSanto talked about the Battlestar Galactica that almost was — a direct sequel to the original series.  Starting in 1998, DeSanto worked with director Bryan Singer to bring a continuation of the series to television.

After some original confusion about who owned the rights, in July 2000, Singer and DeSanto pitched a $13.5 million backdoor pilot to FOX, with a series pickup contingent on the ratings.

FOX and SciFi entered into an agreement that would have allowed SciFi to broadcast letterboxed versions of the episodes a few days after they originally aired.

“We were eight weeks away from shooting when 9-11 happened,” DeSanto said.

The pilot’s plot, about kamikaze pilots crashing into buildings on the human city of New Caprica, suddenly seemed too close to home.  DeSanto and company attempted to rework it, but the schedule slipped, and Singer had to decide between “Battlestar Galactica” and “X-Men 2.”  Singer and FOX struggled with the decision, but ultimately Singer went on to helm “X-Men 2.”

DeSanto showed several effects tests for the series, which he wanted to have a World War II, 16 mm newsreel feel.

DeSanto correlated the “Battlestar Galactica” story to the biblical exodus of the Jews.  The sequel would have followed that story.