While season 4 of Battlestar Galactica is just getting started for viewers, it's nearly completely wrapped up behind-the-scenes.  There will probably be a lot of news in the coming months about the cast and crew taking on new projects.  One person who won't be leaving the sci-fi genre anytime soon is BSG mastermind and executive producer Ronald D. Moore.  Not only is he putting together the Caprica prequel movie for the Sci Fi Channel, but he's also signed on to write the pilot for the new FOX series Virtuality.  The pilot, about the 12 crew members on Earth's first starship, will be co-written by another Battlestar Galactica vet, Michael Taylor.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Virtuality is set aboard a ship called the Phaeton, which is on a ten year journey to explore a distant solar system.  To help the crew members endure the long trip and keep their minds occupied, NASA equipped the ship with advanced virtual reality modules, allowing them to assume adventurous identities and go to any place they want.  The plan works until a mysterious "bug" is found in the system that puts everyone in peril.

The idea for the series was dreamed up by producers Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman, who then shopped the project around to several writers.  Moore and Taylor signed on to write and executive produce the pilot, while film director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) is in talks to direct.

I love that FOX is pursuing exciting genre fare like Virtuality, Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, and J.J. Abrams' Fringe, but I'm also a bit worried.  Moore, Whedon, and Abrams are three of my favorite creative minds in the business, and FOX is known for giving the ax to sci-fi shows that don't bust out of the gate with huge numbers.  I don't know which of these shows stands the best chance at finding an audience, but I do know that at least one of them should be paired up with season 2 of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. FOX has yet to decide whether they'll renew that series, but considering how interested they seem to be in sci-fi, I'd imagine they will.

There's no word on when we'll see Virtuality, but you can catch the final season of Battlestar Galactica Friday nights at 10pm on the Sci Fi Channel.

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- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
(Image courtesy of the Sci Fi Channel)