Time Bandits (TV series)

Last updated

Time Bandits
Time Bandits (TV series).png
Promotional poster
Genre
Created by
Based on
Starring
Composer Mark Mothersbaugh
Country of origin
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • New Zealand
  • Canada
Original languages
  • English
  • German
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Taika Waititi
  • Jemaine Clement
  • Iain Morris
  • Garrett Basch
  • Jane Stanton
Running time31-46 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Apple TV+
ReleaseJuly 24 (2024-07-24) 
August 21, 2024 (2024-08-21)

Time Bandits is a fantasy adventure television series created by Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, and Taika Waititi, based on characters from the 1981 film of the same name directed by Terry Gilliam. The series premiered on July 24, 2024, on Apple TV+. In September 2024, the series was canceled after one season.

Contents

Premise

The series is described as a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an eleven-year-old history nerd. [2]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.Title [3] Directed byTeleplay by [1] Original release date [4]
1"Kevin Haddock" Taika Waititi Jemaine Clement & Iain Morris & Taika WaititiJuly 24, 2024 (2024-07-24)
2"Mayan"Taika WaititiJemaine Clement & Iain Morris & Taika WaititiJuly 24, 2024 (2024-07-24)
3"Medieval" Jackie van Beek Jemaine Clement & Iain MorrisJuly 31, 2024 (2024-07-31)
4"Prohibition" Jeff Tomsic Akilah GreenJuly 31, 2024 (2024-07-31)
5"Georgian"Jeff Tomsic Melanie Bracewell August 7, 2024 (2024-08-07)
6"Mansa Musa" Armagan Ballantyne Tyrell WilliamsAugust 7, 2024 (2024-08-07)
7"Ice Age"Jemaine ClementJemaine ClementAugust 14, 2024 (2024-08-14)
8"Home Again" Yana Gorskaya Jemaine ClementAugust 14, 2024 (2024-08-14)
9"Pell-Mell"Iain Morris Sam Bain August 21, 2024 (2024-08-21)
10"Fortress of Darkness"Tim van DammenIain MorrisAugust 21, 2024 (2024-08-21)

Production

In July 2018, it was announced that Apple Inc. had closed a deal to develop a television series version of the Terry Gilliam film, with Gilliam set to serve as executive producer. [5] In March 2019, Taika Waititi joined the project, set to co-write and direct the pilot episode. [6] Waititi stated the series would be 10 episodes, and revealed to be a co-writer alongside Iain Morris and Jemaine Clement. [7] In September 2022, Lisa Kudrow was cast. [2] On September 16, 2024, Apple TV+ canceled the series after one season. [8]

Production took place in New Zealand and Toronto in late 2022 and early 2023. [9] The series was shot in Wellington, [10] appearing as 1920s New York when shooting began in October 2022. [11]

Release

Time Bandits premiered on July 24, 2024, on Apple TV+. [12] The show was released two episodes a week through August 21, 2024. [13]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 80% approval rating with an average rating of 7.1/10, based on 49 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "This reimagining of Time Bandits swaps out the original film's eccentricity for a more family-friendly sensibility, delivering an energetic adventure that gets more absorbing as it goes along." [3] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 65 out of 100 based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [14]

Controversy

In 2024, Charlyne Yi said that while filming the series, Yi was constantly assaulted by a male actor who, in the process, injured Yi's back. Yi claimed the actor in question attempted to gaslight producers and HR about the incident to protect his image. [15]

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References

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  3. 1 2 "Time Bandits: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
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  5. Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 27, 2018). "Apple Makes Rights Deal To Turn Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits Into TV Series". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  6. Andreeva, Nellie; D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 11, 2019). "Taika Waititi To Co-Write & Direct Time Bandits Series In Works At Apple From Paramount, Anonymous Content & MRC". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
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  9. Taylor, Drew (June 27, 2022). "Taika Waititi's Star Wars Movie Won't Shoot This Year". TheWrap . Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
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  13. Milici, Lauren (July 9, 2024). "Apple unveils the first nostalgia-fueled trailer for Taika Waititi's reimagining of an '80s sci-fi cult classic". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
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