Thunderbirds (2004 film)
Live-action adaptation of the classic Supermarionation series.
In 2004, a live-action science fiction adventure film titled *Thunderbirds* was released, directed by Jonathan Frakes and written by William Osborne and Michael McCullers. It is based on the television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. The story follows the Hood, who traps International Rescue leader Jeff Tracy and four of his sons inside the damaged Thunderbird 5. He then steals the other Thunderbird vehicles to commit crimes, framing International Rescue for them. Jeff’s youngest son Alan, along with his friends Tin-Tin and Fermat, must stop him. Unlike the original series, which used puppetry and miniature models in a style called “Supermarionation,” this film employed live-action actors and computer-generated imagery.
Released in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2004 and in the United States ten days later by Universal Pictures, the film was poorly received by critics, who criticized its wooden characters and thin plot. It also performed poorly at the box office. Gerry Anderson called it “the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in my entire life,” while Sylvia Anderson praised it as a “great tribute” to the series. The soundtrack includes the song “Thunderbirds Are Go” by Busted, which reached number one on the UK singles chart and won the 2004 UK Record of the Year award.
- Release date (UK)
- 20 July 2004
- Release date (US)
- 30 July 2004
- Director
- Jonathan Frakes
- Writers
- William Osborne, Michael McCullers
- Based on
- Thunderbirds by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
- Production company
- Universal Pictures (via Working Title)
- Box office
- Box-office bomb
Lore & Background
The film's plot concerns the Hood, a psychic criminal mastermind, who traps International Rescue leader Jeff Tracy and four of his sons on board the damaged Thunderbird 5. He then steals the other Thunderbird vehicles to commit crimes for which IR will be blamed. Jeff's youngest son Alan, along with his friends Tin-Tin and Fermat, must stop him. The cast includes Bill Paxton as Jeff Tracy, Ben Kingsley as the Hood, Sophia Myles as Lady Penelope, and Anthony Edwards as Brains. Director Jonathan Frakes has an uncredited role as a police officer.
Reader's Guide
The film received negative reviews from critics, with most critiques aimed at its wooden characters and thin plot, and was also a box-office bomb. Gerry Anderson described it as 'the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in my entire life', although Sylvia Anderson praised it as a 'great tribute' to the series. The soundtrack includes the song 'Thunderbirds Are Go' by Busted, which peaked at number one on the UK singles chart and won the 2004 UK Record of the Year award. Development began in the mid-1990s with Peter Hewitt and Karey Kirkpatrick, but both left due to creative differences. Jonathan Frakes, a fan of the original series, replaced Hewitt.
Did You Know?
- The film was the third theatrical release based on the series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, following Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) and Thunderbird 6 (1968).
- Ben Kingsley accepted the role of the Hood because his children were Thunderbirds fans and he was ready for a lighter role after House of Sand and Fog.
- Much of Sophia Myles' and Ron Cook's dialogue was rewritten by Richard Curtis because it was not thought to be funny enough.
- Gerry Anderson was offered a large sum of money to promote the film in the final stages of post-production, but he declined.
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