If you've been hanging out for Caprica, the prequel to the SCI FI Channel's excellent Battlestar Galactica, you'll be happy to hear that it's now going directly to DVD on 21 April 2009. According to the official press release from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, "the feature-length prequel will be available on DVD as a limited-edition uncut and unrated version before the series’ broadcast premiere on the SCI FI Channel in 2010."
The movie will also be available at "selected online destinations for digital download transactions." I'm guessing "selected online destinations" means you'll only be able to download it if you're in the US, which seems to be normal for US TV shows lately. Even episode previews are restricted. The recent Battlestar Galactica web episodes, for example, were blocked in this manner.
Set over 50 years before the events of Battlestar Galactica, the press release states that, "Caprica is a world at the peak of its power, grappling with new science and technologies and the issues they create."
Along with Eric Stoltz, Caprica features Esai Morales (Jericho, NYPD Blue), Paula Malcomson (Deadwood, ER) and Polly Walker (Cane, Rome).
"If Battlestar Galactica offered us a way to shatter the conventions of space opera, Caprica will be a show which will challenge the conventions of science fiction storytelling as a whole," said Ronald D. Moore. David Eick describes it as "Part sweeping soap, part meditation on the dangerous moral ramifications of artificial intelligence, this is a truly unique opportunity to continue telling stories which will be as daring and shocking as the best of Galactica -- and yet will be altogether different from Galactica."
As I've said previously, with the acting talent of Eric Stoltz and the reflected glory of one of the best shows on television, Caprica is one to watch out for. Now that Battlestar Galactica is in its final days, it’s great to hear we'll be getting the new show a lot sooner than expected.
Below you can watch the official Caprica trailer.







