So you say you want toys based on Battlestar Galactica, the hit adult sci-fi show that's wrapping up its third mind-blowing, sexy robot-full season? Well, Diamond Select Toys has just one thing to say to that: "By your command."

DST will be rolling out figures based on the show starting this August in the same style and scale as their Star Trek, Stargate and Buffy figures. We sat down with DST's Director Chuck Terceira to find out what kind of birthing chamber these toys had to go through and what kind of surprises we can expect from the line, because it just wouldn't be "BSG" without surprises.

TOYFARE: When did Battlestar Galactica first land on your radar? Were you guys watching from the beginning, or did you notice it was picking up buzz?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We were Galactica fans from the original TV show, and we've loved the modern take since the SCI FI Channel miniseries. Art Asylum was able to jump in right away and get resin and MiniMates rights that they later brought to us to partner with. But we had to wait for some rights to clear before we could make our move for the action figures. It's been a long road, but worth every step.

TOYFARE: How did you guys decide to use Jean St. Jean as the sculptor on the project?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We picked him for this long before the license was signed and long before we even told him about it. Art Asylum was working on the designs for the figures before the ink was even dry on our contract and [Art Asylum Vice-President] Robert Yee and I decided we really liked how the Stargate figures were coming along and wanted the same feel—with some extra Art Asylum flair thrown in. So Jean was the only choice.

TOYFARE: Tell us a bit about the first series of figures—which characters will be represented, and how will fans be able to get them?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: Jean and his team are working literally around the clock to get this ready for approval and production. We'd love to launch the line at Wizard World Chicago [August 9-12]. Apollo and Red Dress Six are the regular case for the first assortment, with Hot Dog being the short-packed figure. Six in a black dress is the Previews Exclusive, Chief is a DST exclusive, Helo is an Action Figure Xpress exclusive, and Anders is a Suncoast/FYE exclusive.

TOYFARE: What kind of accessories will the figures be coming with?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: They'll be the usual character-specific accessories—so flight helmets, a lighter for Apollo, a cigar for Apollo, a wrench for Chief and cards for Hot Dog. Some of the pilots will also include swappable, gloved hands.

TOYFARE: How did you guys decide which characters to roll out in each wave?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: As you can imagine, that was the hardest part. With a cast this deep, we went back and forth several times. But the way it started to come together was when we made a list of the top 10 characters we thought we had to do, and then looked at it like three waves rather than one at a time.

TOYFARE: Top 10 must-do characters, huh? Okay, if the first three are Six, Apollo and Chief, can I guess at the other seven? I'm gonna say Commander Adama, Starbuck, Boomer, a robo-Cylon, President Roslin, Col. Tigh and Helo.

CHUCK TERCEIRA: Not bad...Five out of seven of them are in the first three waves.

TOYFARE: Are there any characters who are too obscure or whose parts were too small to ever have a figure made?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We never say never at DST, but of course we're not going to get to every character in a cast this deep. Plus, the show keeps adding and dropping characters faster than we can plan the lines.

TOYFARE: What are the target release dates for the first three series?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We would love to get two series out this year, with the first in August and the second at the end of the year. But right now we're just concentrating on Series 1 in August. Pray for me!

TOYFARE: The exclusives in this line seem to be mostly different characters, as opposed to character variations like we've seen in the Buffy line. How did you decide to do it this way? Are character variations a possibility down the line?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: Yes. That was Robert at Art Asylum's idea. We're still going to do the variants of the main characters—they'll just be spaced out better. You won't get something like seven Starbucks in one wave. We're also using the short-pack and some of the exclusives to round out the line with new characters that might not be part of the title credits but fans of the show will really want and are a big part of the story.

TOYFARE: Are there any convention exclusives planned?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We're going to do some exclusives and stuff for shows…we're just not 100 percent sure what and where yet.

TOYFARE: Will we see any vehicles in the line?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: There are none planned at this time, but you never know...

TOYFARE: Is there a possibility of classic Battlestar figures in the same scale and style? Are the planned classic MiniMates still a possibility?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: Yes, they are [both] possible.

TOYFARE: Are there plans for more modern BSG MiniMates beyond the three waves planned this year?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We'll see how the first three do. We think the first three waves cover up until Season 3.5 pretty well, so we'll have more stuff to do as the show and sales progress.

TOYFARE: How much access did you have to props and outfits from the show for sculpting reference?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: Jean St. Jean Studios has taken to the challenge of this line and really come through on some of the detail in the uniform and faces. As of now, only Chief is off of a scan, and all the uniforms, helmets and accessories are free-sculpted. These figures will have some great detail in the uniforms and flight suits. Lots of help from production and on-site personnel has been key, from the producers to designers to actors. Everyone has been super-helpful.

TOYFARE: How do the cast seem to feel about having toys?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: We've met a few of the cast, Grace [Park, who plays Boomer] is really into the MiniMates, and Aaron Douglas has seen his figure and MiniMates and loves them. We just met up with James [Callis] and Tricia [Helfer] and showed them their busts and MiniMates and they seem into it. I think they're all genuinely excited to see themselves. [Editor's Note: They are! See the sidebar!]

TOYFARE: Which character is a favorite of yours that you can't wait to make?

CHUCK TERCEIRA: I think for me it's Baltar, but I bet if you ask five of us you'll get five different answers. For sculpting, I can't wait to get to the toaster Cylons!

Frakkin' Sweet
The 'Battlestar' cast speaks out on having their own toys

JAMIE BAMBER (Lee "Apollo"Adama): "It's really exciting. When I was a kid I had those kinds of toys—the Star Wars ones in particular I was crazy about. So it's kind of a trip. They're not genuine toys. I think they're toys for adults that should know better, because our show's a bit adult."

GRACE PARK (Sharon "Boomer"Valerii): "I'm thrilled. I had a friend who always collected action figures and toys and stuff like that. So I always thought, When I get an action figure made I'm gonna send one to him. But it's really strange when you experience something as a kid, and one day you step into that going, 'Wow, I'm gonna have this soon.'"

TRICIA HELFER (Number Six): "I've seen pictures of the MiniMates (right), which are very funny because they don't really look like you. I think it'll be kind of cool."

EDWARD JAMES OLMOS (Commander William Adama): "It's great. I mean we don't partake in any of the luxuries of having toys made about us, but I'm glad that people are finding them to be worthy of toys and stuff like that. It says something about the show."

JAMES CALLIS (Gaius Baltar): "I'm very excited as long as I can get some commission on the merchandising. And I hope you buy lots of them."

AARON DOUGLAS (Chief Tyrol): "When you're an actor, you kind of have a few things that you're like, 'All right, I know I've made it.' There are certain awards you want to win. But an action figure is really the deal, and I'm very, very excited. One of my closest friends in the world is Donna Soldano, who owns Art Asylum, and Donna is making the Chief doll, so I've got a picture of my action figure on my phone. And I'm showing everyone. And they hate me."