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]

Time Bandits made significant use of practical effects in order to match Terry Gilliam's original 1981 film. Miniature effects were employed for various scenes, including Chinese ships, a Mayan pyramid, parts of the Fortress of Darkness, and Kevin's bedroom, while oil-painted matte paintings were used for certain background shots. To create animals such as the woolly mammoth, rhinoceros, and saber-tooth tiger, the show utilized a combination of animatronics, puppets, and creature suits. Additionally, the series features nearly 5000 computer-generated visual effects shots, some created using blue-screen and green-screen techniques, while others were filmed in the Volume with LED screens to generate backgrounds. [12]

Release

Time Bandits premiered on July 24, 2024, on Apple TV+. [13] The show was released two episodes a week through August 21, 2024. [14]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 76% approval rating with an average rating of 7.1/10, based on 51 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 66 out of 100 based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [15]

Controversy

In 2024, Charlyne Yi said that while filming the series, a male actor constantly assaulted them, injuring their back. Yi claimed the actor in question attempted to gaslight producers and HR about the incident to protect his image. However, following Yi’s complaint, multiple individuals and witnesses were interviewed as part of the full investigation, but none of Yi’s claims could be substantiated. [16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Time Bandits". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Petski, Denise (September 28, 2022). "Time Bandits: Lisa Kudrow To Lead Cast Of Taika Waititi's Apple Series". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Time Bandits: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Shows A-Z – Time Bandits on Apple TV+". The Futon Critic . Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  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.
  7. ↑ McLean, Craig (July 7, 2022). "How Taika Waititi brought rock'n'roll to Hollywood (and Thor)". The Face . Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (September 16, 2024). "'Time Bandits' Canceled By Apple TV+ After 1 Season". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  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.
  10. ↑ Fuller, Piers (September 6, 2022). "Taika Waititi's new Time Bandits project to be filmed in Wairarapa". Stuff . Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  11. ↑ Evans, Chris (October 3, 2022). "Taika Waititi's Time Bandits doubles New Zealand for New York". KFTV.com . Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  12. ↑ Failes, Ian (August 3, 2022). "Miniatures, animatronics and even oil paintings were part of the effects of 'Time Bandits'". Before and Afters. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ Coggan, Devan (May 20, 2024). "Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement tease their Time Bandits TV show in exclusive first look". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Time Bandits: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  16. ↑ Dolak, Kevin (May 16, 2024). "Charlyne Yi Says They Were Physically and Mentally Abused on 'Time Bandits' Series Set". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
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