Former Star Trek scribe Ron Moore, now executive producer of the Sci Fi Channel's Battlestar Galactica remake, is in negotiations with original Galactica star Richard Hatch for the latter to make a guest appearance on the series.

Hatch, a fixture at science fiction conventions who worked for many years to spearhead a revival of the series that would continue the story of the original Galactica crew, told Sci Fi Wire that he did not see a competition between the old and new series, stating, "There are very talented, gifted people involved in this version of Battlestar."

Hatch explained that he had met Moore at a celebration of the Battlestar Galactica 25th anniversary, finding him to be "a very intelligent, very creative, very talented man, really down to earth." At the time Hatch told Moore that if he were offered a role that would challenge him as an actor, he would be happy to discuss an appearance on the new series.

Moore told Sci Fi Wire in a separate interview that Hatch will play a Nelson Mandela-like character who's been held prisoner on one of the ships in Galactica's fleet.

"It's possible the character could recur, but that is to be determined," he added, saying that he harbored no ill-will toward Hatch for his criticisms of the new series for not building upon the original as The Next Generation built on Star Trek.

Hundreds of fans on Galactica message boards have expressed the hope that members of the original cast would appear on the upcoming miniseries, a movement that resembles Star Trek's "Bring Back Kirk" campaign. Moore has said that his dealings with Trek fans have emphasized the importance of respecting their loyalties.

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