Time Bandits

Time Bandits, the new Apple TV+ series, reimagines the beloved 1981 cult classic film for a new generation. Premiering globally on July 24, 2024, this live-action, comedic adventure series is the brainchild of New Zealanders Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Taika’s recent collaborator Iain Morris.

Filming in Wellington

Filming for Time Bandits took place in Wellington, New Zealand, utilising the region's stunning landscapes and versatile locations to create a vivid and immersive experience. Wellington’s Stone Street Studios served as the production’s home base with second unit filming at Lane Street Studios, while the Remutaka Hills stood in for the area around the Great Wall of China, the Cook Strait played for island settings, and downtown Wellington doubled for urban environments, including 1920’s Harlem. 

For the Harlem scenes, the production team filled the streets with extras to create an authentic period setting. Supported by Wellington City Council the filmmakers were assisted to shut down a large city block and transform it into the vibrant 1920's Harlem. 

“In most cities in the world, it's nigh on impossible to close down city blocks for a television show,” says New Zealand production designer Ra Vincent. “But in the episode set in 1920s Harlem, we brought in vintage cars and filled the streets with people. Our hosts were gracious and gave us the opportunity to shut down a large city block.” 

Kal-El Tuck in Time Bandits, © Apple TV+

The New Zealand Connection

Waititi’s vision for Time Bandits aims to capture the magic of time travel and the quirky, humorous spirit of the original film. “This series is a love letter to the adventurous spirit of the original,” Waititi says. “We assembled an incredible team to bring this fantastical world to life, blending the old with the new in a way that honors the original while adding our unique flavor.” 

His ability to blend humor with poignant storytelling brings a fresh perspective to the timeless tale. "Time Bandits is all about the wonder of discovery and the bonds formed through shared adventures," he says. "It's a journey that is both visually spectacular and emotionally resonant." 

Waititi’s team of key New Zealand creatives included production designer Ra Vincent and his team who created 120 sets over 100 production days, capturing the series' adventurous and historical essence from Ancient Mayan rituals to 1920’s Harlem. The art department's innovative use of miniatures and practical effects also contributed to the series' unique visual style. "Walking onto a set, I felt like we were in a work of art, a masterpiece," raves actor Lisa Kudrow of the sets’ authenticity and detail.  

By the time we’d assembled the 300 crew members, the set fell into place more splendidly than we had conceptualised. It required contributions of all the technicians to fully realize the vision. The writing is amazing, the performances are incredible, the art and costume departments are super talented, the VFX are inspiring. It gave me great pleasure to be part of a team so focused on a single goal.

In addition to Vincent, New Zealand costume designer Bob Buck lent his 30 years of experience to the project crafting memorable costumes that reflect the diverse time periods explored in the series. 

New Zealand Hair and makeup designer Nancy Vincent added the finishing touches to the characters' distinct looks. Her team focused heavily on prosthetics and worked with the renowned teams at Wētā Workshop in Wellington and Odd Studio in Sydney. Vincent and her team undertook extensive research “We were very lucky to have access to experts, especially in the Ancient Mayan and Neanderthal periods,’ she says. “We wanted to make sure we had accurate body and face paints, to mimic the organic elements the characters would have had access to, and how their hair would be shaped and adorned.”  

Creating the epic adventures required collaboration across multiple disciplines, from visual effects to stunts. New Zealand based VFX supervisor Tobias Wolters led visual effects on the show and New Zealand VFX company Cause and FX worked on 50+ complex shots across five episodes involving 3D face replacements along with some painting environments. 

Multi-award-nominated Pinnacle Post delivered a comprehensive sound post-production package for the cult-classic series, ensuring the audio matched the immersive and dynamic quality of the visuals.

The Rebel Fleet supported the production from pre-production to final delivery, offering workflow configuration, video assist, and on-set dailies. Their work ensured smooth coordination between Wellington and Auckland, enhancing both efficiency and quality throughout the process. Additionally, The Rebel Fleet, alongside senior colourist Damian McDonnell, has been nominated for 'Outstanding Colour Grading - Live-Action Episode' at the 2024 Hollywood Professional Association Awards.

About the cast

Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris, and Taika Waititi bring their unique talents and collaborative spirit to Time Bandits. Clement, a musician, actor, writer, and director, is renowned for his work on Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows. Morris, best known for co-creating the hit series The Inbetweeners, recently collaborated with Waititi on the film Next Goal Wins. Waititi, an Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer, has garnered international acclaim for films like Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok. Together, they set out to capture the adventurous spirit and whimsical charm of the original Time Bandits film, creating a series that blends humour, heart, and epic adventures through time. 

Time Bandits follows the adventures of Kevin, an 11-year-old history enthusiast, who joins a group of time-traveling thieves on a high-stakes quest to save his parents and, ultimately, the world. Guided by the eccentric Penelope, the crew embarks on epic adventures through various historical periods. Along the way, they witness the creation of Stonehenge, see the Trojan Horse in action, escape from dinosaurs, wreak havoc during medieval times, and experience events like the Harlem Renaissance​. 

The series stars an ensemble of talented actors, including Lisa Kudrow as Penelope, the guide of the ragtag crew, and Kal-El Tuck as Kevin, the young protagonist. The main cast is rounded out by Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Rune Temte, Charlyne Yi, Rachel House, Kiera Thompson, James Dryden, Felicity Ward, Francesca Mills, and Imaan Hadchiti. Notably, the series features special guest appearances by New Zealanders Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. Additionally, Rachel House, renown New Zealand actor, writer and director, brings her unique talent to the cast, rounding out the strong Kiwi presence in the show. 

Lisa Kudrow, who plays Penelope, says "I got a DM from Taika asking if I would work in New Zealand," Kudrow recalled. "When he told me about the project, I couldn't say no. The opportunity to work with Taika and Jemaine on Time Bandits was too good to pass up." 

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Taika Waititi in Time Bandits, © Apple TV+

Lisa Kudrow, Rune Temte, Kal-El Tuck, Tadhg Murphy, Charlyne Yi and Roger Jean Nsengiyumva in Time Bandits, © Apple TV+

Jemaine Clement in Time Bandits, © Apple TV+

Lisa Kudrow in Time Bandits, © Apple TV+

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About the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate 

Time Bandits utilised the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR). 

The NZSPR for International Productions is part of the New Zealand Government’s screen incentives scheme, which includes the Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Rebate. Eligible productions can access a cash rebate on Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE). 

Find out more here. 

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Time Bandits is available to stream on Apple TV+