It's official at last: the Sci-Fi Channel will produce 13 episodes of former Star Trek producer Ron Moore's reconceptualized Battlestar Galactica, following a successful miniseries last December.

Sci Fi Wire, the Sci Fi Channel's news service, made the announcement this morning, stating that the network has ordered 13 one-hour installments featuring cast members Edward James Olmos (Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck) and Tricia Helfer (Number Six) among others.

Moore will write scripts and put together the staff for the series. In a brief interview with Sci Fi Wire, he promised to try to maintain the standards of the miniseries:

I think one of the hallmarks of the series will be that, it's always going to be a tense situation. These people are always going to be one step away from disaster. Which doesn't mean that the Cylons will be attacking them every week. But I think the nature of their situation and the reality of what they're facing out there alone, with most of them left with the clothes on their back and whatever food and supplies they happen to have on those ships when the events of the pilot occur is only, God, the beginning.

Moore, who will serve as executive producer of the series, also said that he would like to find roles for some of the actors from the original Battlestar Galactica.

"I'm probably going to approach a couple of the actors, if not all of them, at some point, and talk to them about that possibility, because I think that would be kind of cool and fun," he said. "I think it would be interesting to find things for them in the new series. And not just, like, a walk-on."

Original Galactica series star Richard Hatch, a fan favorite at conventions, spent several years trying to spearhead a revival before Sci Fi picked up Moore's revision.

The Sci Fi Wire announcement is here.

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