He was the leader of the movement to revive "Battlestar Galactica," but instead of getting the continuation he wanted, actor Richard Hatch (Apollo) watched as the Sci-Fi Channel did a total reimagination of the series instead.

Now that that December four-part miniseries has been picked up for a series, Hatch recently told Comic-Con attendees in San Diego that he was happy to be a part of Ronald D. Moore's series.

"It was very difficult to accept the reimagining, but I have nothing personal against any of the actors or the crew or the producers or the writers (of the new program)," Hatch said. "When they decided to go a different way, I was angry and as hurt as anybody. And finally, when they did the show, it was obvious to me that there were some very good elements. But it was very difficult not being biased and prejudiced as somebody who loved the original show, being able to even see this show through objective eyes. So I didn't want to unfairly judge it, and I watched it several times. And once I could get past th ebias and look at it for what it was and not what it wasn't ... I found interesting ideas. I found some interesting characters."

After he rejected Moore's initial invitation to appear in the miniseries, Hatch said he was contacted by the executive producer again after the Sci-Fi Channel gave a go for the series.

"(Moore) said, 'I don't know if you're willing to do this, but we would love to have you come on and play a role and guest star on the show, and it could be a continuing role,'" Hatch said. "I was very, very impressed when I sat down and talked with him."

Hatch will play a "Nelson Mandela-style" political prisoner on the show.

"They're getting into the core stories," Hatch said. "Core challenges about surviving, struggling, dealing with your issues, and that's what I wanted so much from the original show."

But are continuation efforts dead for the original "Battlestar Galactica"?

"We're not getting the continuation at this time, [but] hopefully, maybe sooner than later, a movie," Hatch said. "Maybe a miniseries, something to resolve the original show. That's what I hope."

In other news, another former cast member is rumored to be making an appearance on the new series in the final episode of its first season.

Dirk Benedict, who played Starbuck in the original series, is rumored to be playing the character of God in the first-season finale. However, this rumor has not yet been confirmed by the Sci-Fi Channel.

Fans of the new "Battlestar Galactica" can catch the series in the U.K. in September, and in the U.S. in January.

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