Battlestar Galactica concept design for the supreme Cylon leader
The impossibly creepy, serpentine design for the supreme Cylon leader in the original Battlestar Galactica. He reminds me of the Skeksis from the Dark Crystal.
Imperious Leader’s design is unique among the Cylons because he was a hold over from the original concept. Originally, the Cylons weren’t going to be robots at all, but a sinister serpentine reptile race. Since Battlestar Galactica was originally conceived as having biblical parallels and was “the Bible in space” (hence Biblical names like Adama and Sheba), the Cylons were serpent aliens.
Apparently, changing the Cylons to robots was a decision made surprisingly late in pre-production, when Imperious Leader had already been built. The finished Cylons still seem like vaguely Biblical enemies, but in a New Testament mold: they look Roman, and are called “Centurions.”
