Caprica Ides of Renewal?

In a long laundry list of television productions posting open casting calls today, April 15th, I spy with my browsing eye a familiar show:

Caprica (Science fiction, Syfy). This prequel to "Battlestar Galactica" takes place 50 years earlier and follows the evolution of the Cylons when the colonies were at peace. Told from the perspective of two families, the Graystones and the Adamas, the series explores themes of corporate control, politics, and the impact of emerging technologies. Esai Morales and Eric Stoltz star. Casting: Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, 4705 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste. 301, Valley Village, CA 91607. Premiered Jan. 22.

The other shows listed are pilots still in pre-production and continuing series ramping up for new seasons. Although there is no date given in the Caprica listing, other adjoining casting calls list dates for summer shooting schedules. Unless someone's paperwork got scrambled, this is an industry announcement that Caprica is starting pre-production for a second season. There is also the distinct possibility this casting is limited to fills and re-shoots to mix into existing episodes in the back half of the first season. Kind of extremely late in the year to be doing that, but you never know.

From past experience, in my opinion this is not quite a slam dunk just yet, but reason to keep an ear to the rail for the weeks ahead. Not to mix metaphors or anything. Whatever the case, you don't need dradis or an oracle to know Universal and SyFy must make a go/no go renewal decision prior to Caprica's return from hiatus in October. In order to make a 2011 winter or spring second season premiere, Caprica should resume shooting this summer, otherwise lead time for post production shrinks to slim and none.

-ThP