The first-ever television adaptation of the beloved cult classic movie, Time Bandits, follows a young boy named Kevin (Kal-El Tuck) who does not have many friends but does have a love of history. One day, his wildest dreams come true when a group of bandits arrive in his bedroom and take him on a journey through time. While the bandits claim to not have a leader, Penelope (Lisa Kudrow) guides them, learning a lot about herself along the way.

Created for television by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, Time Bandits delivers a comedic, high-stakes adventure that is perfect for the whole family. Season one of the Apple TV+ series has ten episodes, allowing for more time to develop the characters and the story. Time Bandits will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Wednesday, July 24th, followed by two new episodes every Wednesday through August 21st, 2024.

Screen Rant spoke with Time Bandits‘ Lisa Kudrow and Kal-El Tuck about the film adaptation. They discuss the detailed sets that depict different places in history. Kal-El confesses he did not watch the Time Bandits movie, while Lisa explains what Penelope has learned from Kevin throughout their journey. The two also reveal where they would travel to in time, if given the chance.

Time Bandits Star Kal-El Tuck Wanted To Be His Own Kevin

When asked if he watched the 1981 film, Time Bandits, Kal-El admits that he did not. However, his father loves the film, so it meant something special to him to get to be a part of it. The reason he opted not to check it out after getting the role? He wanted to make this version of Kevin his own.

Kal-El Tuck: I did not watch the movie. My dad watched it when he was younger. And it’s just awesome to be in the thing that my dad used to watch. I didn’t watch the movie because I just wanted to be my own Kevin. I want it to be me. My Kevin, in my own way.

Penelope Learns A Lot About Herself In Time Bandits Season 1

Penelope does not want Kevin to join the bandits at the start of the season, but he quickly starts to grow on her. Over the course of the ten episodes in season one, she changes, learning a lot about herself from Kevin. Lisa Kudrow discusses how she feels Penelope has grown.

Lisa Kudrow: Oh, I think she’s learned a lot about herself through Kevin on this journey. That is important. Maybe a little bit of humility, a little bit of you don’t have to have all the answers. And just respect truth and information wherever it’s coming from.

A series like Time Bandits does not work unless the camaraderie between the main cast is believable. When asked about forming a relationship, both Lisa and Kal-El detail the time they got to spend together to form a true relationship.

Kal-El Tuck: Because every day, basically, we had to see each other. We basically made a family. It was very nice. We were all talking. We were all nice to each other. We were all very happy. We were in nice moods and just had a really good time.

Lisa Kudrow: In between, sometimes when Kal-El, if he wasn’t in school, or something else, and he could be with us in the holding tent waiting, we would play concentration. And Kal-El liked to win, for sure.

Lisa Kudrow Likes It Here: “With Working Toilets”

In Time Bandits, they are able to use portals to jump through time and space. When asked where they would go visit in time, if they could, Kal-El and Lisa had very different answers.

Kal-El Tuck: I would go to the Viking era. I’d like to live off the land. Just journey across seas. Just no electronics in sight. Just fun.

Lisa Kudrow: Yeah. I don’t have a favorite place. I like the here and now. Toilets that work. No bad smells. I like it here.

The scale and scope of Time Bandits are incredible. This is mainly due to the massive sets and detailed costumes that change every time the bandits visit a new place. When asked about it, both Lisa and Kal-El rave about them.

Lisa Kudrow: The sets were extraordinary. And the costumes were extraordinary. I felt like I was actually there. And then because it’s so beautiful, and so much attention to detail, that it’s like being in a work of art. I felt really lucky and enriched, deep, deeply deep inside. It was breathtaking.

Kal-El Tuck: Yeah, there would be so many sets. So either we’d go off on location. Like, if we’re in a forest for some reason, we might actually go to a forest. Or let’s say we need to go into a desert, maybe then you put a bunch of sand in a random warehouse, and we’d have to act. And then there was another one where there was a big TV screen that circled around us, so when we looked around, we could see like we’re in an ice age because all around us, there’d be mountains and it was amazing.

When asked to describe Time Bandits in just three words to get someone to tune in on Apple TV+, Kal-El and Lisa claim it is a fun series.

Lisa Kudrow: Funny, fun, time travel.

Kal-El Tuck: Cool, fun, witty journey.

Both Lisa Kudrow and Kal-El Tuck declare they would come back in a heartbeat if Time Bandits is given a season 2.

About Time Bandits

Created for television by Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners) and Taika Waititi (Our Flag Means Death), Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. Together, they set out on a thrilling quest to save the boy’s parents — and the world.

Check out our other interview with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement.

Source: Screen Rant Plus