Lisa Kudrow and co-creators Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement headline the new series reimagining of the famous ‘80s movie. Here’s the full list.
Akhil Arora, a Film Critics Guild member and a Rotten Tomatoes-certified TV critic, who has been reporting on Apple TV+ originals since 2017. He has written for NDTV and SlashFilm.
Time Bandits—the new Apple TV+ series premiering Wednesday, July 24—offers a remixed take on Terry Gilliam’s eighties kids movie. Primarily, it’s still about a young boy Kevin who loves ancient history and a bunch of highly unsuccessful Time Bandits. Except, in this version, they aren’t dwarves. They still have an all-powerful map, one they stole from the Supreme Being—you know, like God—and that’s capable of helping them travel through time and space. Kevin tags along with the Time Bandits as they try to execute heists across history. From the Time Bandits trailer, it seems like we’ll go to Troy and the Mayan era and meet Mansa Musa and Chinese pirates.
Time Bandits review: quickfire series loses steam
Taika Waititi co-created Apple TV+ series gets off to a great start, before rapidly descending into a padded mess.
Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris and Taika Waititi—who have previously worked together on numerous occasions, including the vampire mockumentary series What We Do in the Shadows—are behind this new take on Time Bandits. In addition to creating the show, they also wrote the first two episodes. Waititi directed the first two episodes, while Clement and Morris have individual or shared credits for a few other episodes. Additionally, Waititi and Clement have recurring roles in front of the camera, too. Who else is with them? Who’s playing Kevin and who’s part of the Time Bandits? This is the full Time Bandits cast.
Time Bandits cast: the main characters
Lisa Kudrow, Penelope
Kudrow plays Penelope, a member of the Time Bandits who is not the leader but rather the one in charge. If that’s confusing for you, I can understand. The Time Bandits like to think of themselves as a collective, so they don’t need a leader. But Penelope is basically the leader. Just don’t call her a coward. Penelope previously worked for the Supreme Being.
Kudrow is best known as Phoebe from Friends.
Kal-El Tuck, Kevin Haddock
Tuck plays Kevin, an 11-year-old boy from Bingley, England who loves all things ancient history. That earns him scorn from his parents, his younger sister Saffron, and everyone at school. Kevin’s knowledge (sometimes) proves useful on his adventure with the Time Bandits—his first experience of the world out there given he’s otherwise not invited to anything as he tends to bore everyone.
This is Tuck’s first main role.
Tadhg Murphy, Alto
Murphy plays Alto, a member of the Time Bandits who likes to call himself an actor and master of disguise. He is more interested in theatrical pursuits than stealing. Alto previously worked for the Supreme Being.
Murphy’s last major role was in the 2024 paranormal horror film Oddity.
Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Widgit
Nsengiyumva plays Widgit, a member of the Time Bandits who finds portals and helps guide them across time. He does that with the help of an all-powerful map that contains the blueprints to the universe. Widgit previously dated a demon and worked for the Supreme Being.
Nsengiyumva’s last major role was in the 2021 crime drama miniseries You Don’t Know Me.
Rune Temte, Bittelig
Temte plays Bittelig, a member of the Time Bandits who has the strength of seven average-strength men. He’s also the most sensitive in the group. Bittelig previously worked for the Supreme Being.
Temte had a minor role as Bron-Char in the Marvel movie Captain Marvel.
Charlyne Yi, Judy
Yi plays Judy, a member of the Time Bandits who is an empath. She likes to think of herself as a master psychologist. Judy has no respect for leadership and previously worked for the Supreme Being.
Yi is best known as Dr. Chi Park from House.
Rachel House, Fianna
House plays Fianna the Huntress, a demon who works for Pure Evil and does his bidding. Thanks to massive amounts of prosthetic makeup, House is unrecognisable in the role.
House has appeared in multiple Waititi movies, including as Topaz in Thor: Ragnarok.
Kiera Thompson, Saffron Haddock
Thompson plays Saffron, Kevin’s sister who is frustrated by her elder brother’s history obsession.
She had a minor role in the second season of the ITV police procedural series D.I. Ray.
Time Bandits cast: guest stars
Taika Waititi, Supreme Being
Waititi plays the Supreme Being, who is essentially God. He created Earth and all living beings, including Pure Evil. After the Time Bandits run off with the map, he pursues them for he doesn’t want it to end up in the wrong hands. He might also have an ulterior motive.
Waititi’s last live-action acting role was as Blackbeard in the period rom-com series Our Flag Means Death.
Jemaine Clement, Pure Evil
Clements plays Pure Evil, who is basically the Devil. He’s the ruler of the Fortress of Darkness. After he learns that the map has escaped the Supreme Being, Pure Evil sets his minion Fianna to the task. He wants the map so he can remake the world in his image.
Pure Evil’s minions also include Damon (Jonny Brugh), Demon (Shane Rangi), Headface (Mike Minogue) and Stomachface (Karen O’Leary).
Clement’s last live-action acting role was as Dr. Garvin in James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water.
James Dryden, Dad
Dryden plays Mike Haddock, Kevin’s father who does not share his son’s interests and pushes him to be more involved with modern gadgets.
Dryden was last seen in the Netflix historical drama miniseries All the Light We Cannot See.
Felicity Ward, Mum
Ward plays Mrs. Maddock, Kevin’s mother who does not share her son’s interests and wants him to stop dwelling on the past because she thinks it’s of no use to anyone.
Ward will be next seen in the lead of The Office Australia, a remake of the beloved sitcom slated to premiere in 2024 on Prime Video globally (except in the US).
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