Time Bandits (TV series)

Time Bandits is a fantasy adventure series that follows a mismatched group of time-traveling thieves and an eleven-year-old history enthusiast who joins them on comedic journeys through history. The show was created by Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, and Taika Waititi, drawing on characters from Terry Gilliam’s 1981 film of the same name. It debuted on Apple TV+ on July 24, 2024, and was canceled after a single season in August 2024.

The main cast includes Lisa Kudrow as Penelope, Kal-El Tuck as Kevin, Tadhg Murphy as Alto, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Widgit, Rune Temte as Bittelig, Lo Mutuc as Judy, Rachel House as Fianna, and Kiera Thompson as Saffron. Recurring roles feature Jonathan Brugh as Damon, Jemaine Clement as Pure Evil, Taika Waititi as Supreme Being, James Dryden as Mr. Haddock, Felicity Ward as Mrs. Haddock, Shane Rangi as Demon, Francesca Mills as Detective Katherine, and Imaan Hadchiti as Sergeant Lewis. Guest stars include Marley Mackrill, Ross Noble, Zoë Ventoura, Nikita Chronis, Jose Palma, Génesis Mancheren Ab'äj, Con O'Neill, Matt King, Shaun Micallef, George Houvardas, Mark Gatiss, Hammed Animashaun, and Kountry Wayne.

Development began in July 2018 when Apple Inc. secured a deal to adapt the film into a series, with Gilliam as executive producer. Taika Waititi joined in March 2019 to co-write and direct the pilot, later revealing a ten-episode plan and co-writers Iain Morris and Jemaine Clement. Lisa Kudrow was cast in September 2022. Production occurred in New Zealand and Toronto from late 2022 to early 2023, with Wellington doubling for 1920s New York starting in October 2022. The series relied heavily on practical effects to mirror Gilliam’s original film, using miniatures for Chinese ships, a Mayan pyramid, parts of the Fortress of Darkness, and Kevin’s bedroom, alongside oil-painted matte paintings for backgrounds. Animals like woolly mammoths, rhinoceroses, and saber-tooth tigers were created with animatronics, puppets, and creature suits. Nearly 5,000 computer-generated visual effects shots were employed, some via blue-screen or green-screen, others filmed in the Volume with LED screens.

The show premiered on Apple TV+ on July 24, 2024, releasing two episodes weekly through August 21, 2024. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 76% approval rating from 51 critics, with an average score of 7.1/10 and a consensus calling it a “family-f