From Maspeth to the Stars, Giakoumis’ Sci-Fi Universe
By MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
A Lifelong native of Maspeth, Queens, Peter S. Giakoumis spent his childhood on the streets of his neighborhood, playing stickball with friends, visiting the candy store on Grand Avenue, and diving into comic books and science-fiction magazines. Those early experiences would later fuel a passion for storytelling that has now blossomed into an ambitious, multi-platform sci-fi project called Galactic Beat.
“As a Queens local, I love Maspeth. It’s just a great neighborhood to be in,” Giakoumis said. “When I grew up, there were kids on the block. We played in the street, played stickball… it was a lot of fun going to the candy store on Grand Avenue, getting comic books and sci-fi magazines.”
That passion for imaginative worlds and stories would guide Giakoumis from his local schools—PS 128 and Grover Cleveland High School—to Queens College, after a brief stint at the Military College of Vermont and spent most of his career as a civil servant. But it was his ongoing love for film, particularly sci-fi, that ultimately shaped his creative career. “I’ve always loved film, specifically sci-fi and adventure,” Giakoumis said. “As I got older, I realized I wanted to explore the medium more seriously, so I studied filmmaking at LaGuardia Community College and later took a certificate course at NYU Tisch on the business of entertainment.”
Giakoumis’ journey into filmmaking began long before he launched XG-3 Films. His love for Battlestar Galactica—the 1978 cult-classic sci-fi series that aired just after Star Wars—sparked a lifelong connection to the franchise and its fan community. Growing up watching the series on first-run television, Giakoumis became deeply engaged with its lore, following both the original and the 2004 reimagined version that honored the show’s roots while expanding its story. That passion eventually led him to co-create Interfleet Broadcasting, a live-streaming show and podcast launched during the pandemic. Named after the telecommunications crew in the Galactica fleet, the program brings together fans, creators, and filmmakers influenced by 1970s and ’80s sci-fi. Since its inception, Interfleet Broadcasting has produced more than 250 episodes, featuring interviews with writers, editors, video creators, and other industry professionals, all united by a shared love for classic science fiction.
Giakoumis credits a long-standing collaboration with his cousin, George J. Giakoumis, an Emmy-winning broadcast professional from Forest Hills, as a pivotal turning point in his creative journey. “George and I would go to the movies growing up and critique them for years,” he said. “I was like, you know what? Either we stop doing this, or we see if we can do better. And maybe we can.” Their shared analytical approach eventually evolved into a creative partnership that became XG-3 Films, a production company dedicated to writing, consulting, and producing entertainment media.
Joining them is Dr. Chris McAuley, an Irish-Canadian bestselling author and video game industry veteran, who Giakoumis met through their podcast. Together, the three formed a team that has now partnered with Glen Eric Larson, son of Glen A. Larson, the legendary creator behind classic TV series such as Battlestar Galactica, Magnum PI, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
The collaboration has led to the creation of Galactic Beat, a story that blends adventure, science fiction, and emotional depth. The narrative follows a widowed father and his preteen daughter as they are recruited from Earth to a distant alien planet. “The idea was, we wanted to emphasize the tribulations that the main character is going through… he has a daughter, and she’s going to school, making friends, and those other avenues that we can explore in the story,” Giakoumis said.
Unlike many independent projects, Galactic Beat is being developed as a full franchise from the start. Contracts have already been signed for an introductory novel with Crystal Lake Publishing, a stand-alone comic book with Scratch Comics, and a tabletop role-playing game with ABC Games, all scheduled to debut over 2026, with a video game expected in 2027. Meanwhile, a television pilot script and episode guides are complete, with the goal of eventually bringing the series to the small screen.
The project reflects the combined expertise of its creators. “You have to know who you’re getting involved in,” Giakoumis said. “Chris McCauley… he is a genius. And my cousin George and I, we’ve always been talking about comic books and TV… If we see things slightly different, we devise a way to compromise and bring it all together.”
“We’re building a universe that spans comics, novels, audio dramas, games, and even the potential for television and film, and my greatest hope is that audiences connect with its heart as much as they enjoy its action and spectacle,” said McAuley.
“Galactic Beat follows the legacy of great TV shows like Babylon 5, Stargate and even Star Trek with themes of hope and determination. I hope our franchise becomes another great series for decades to come.” said George J. Giakoumis, Co-Creator.
Giakoumis also emphasizes the value of community and indie creativity in reshaping the entertainment industry. “Artificial intelligence can be a tool, but you still need stories, you still need productions. Indie creators are important now more than ever. You can do a lot with little and still be taken seriously.”
For Giakoumis, the project represents a personal milestone, demonstrating that a local creator can reach a global audience. “It’s really cool that a local can actually get to where I’m going… Coming from Queens, it’s inspiring. It shows you can be from anywhere and still make it,” he said.
For aspiring creators, he offers a clear message: “What I’m doing, anybody else can do, as long as they take themselves seriously… Find your passion and pursue it.”
Fans can follow updates on XG-3 Films’ Facebook page and Giakoumis’s live-streaming podcast, Interfleet Broadcasting.
