EXCLUSIVE: The long-awaited big-screen transfer of the Glen Larson 1978 TV series is moving forward at Universal. Lisa Joy, who scripted and is exec producer on HBO’s series Westworld, is writing the script. Francis Lawrence is circling the movie to direct.

Bluegrass Films partners Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark are producing with Michael De Luca through his Michael De Luca Productions. Bluegrass is currently awaiting release on Free State Of Jones and Central Intelligence. De Luca is currently in production on Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. The producers came on to the project in February.

Lawrence, who last directed The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, is next directing Jennifer Lawrence in the spy thriller Red Sparrow and this would come after. The Battlestar Galactica series involves the battle between humans and the alien Cylon race, which is bent on wiping out the human race. It nearly achieves its aims with a devastating attack and the survivors flee in a caravan of spaceships. The cult favorite series led to a 2003 reimagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries aired on Syfy that Time magazine called one of the “100 best TV shows of all-time.” Numerous directors have taken cracks at the feature film version over the years. It gives Universal a strong chance to create another tentpole franchise.

Universal’s VP Production Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for the studio.

Joy is represented by UTA and Bloom Hergott. CAA and 3 Arts rep Lawrence.