Apple TV+ has decided not to renew the series, adapted from the 1981 film by Terry Gilliam, for a second season despite generally positive critical reception.
- September 17, 2024
AceShowbiz - Apple TV+ has canceled "Time Bandits" after a single season. The series, an adaptation of Gilliam's 1981 feature film, concluded its 10-episode first season on August 21, 2022.
While viewing figures for "Time Bandits" remain private, Nielsen's top 10 original streaming series did not include the show during its initial four-week run. Critics, however, praised the series, with Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter describing the second half of the season as "actively funny and clever and just a little bit emotional."
The series follows Kevin (Kal-El Tuck), a young history buff recruited by a band of thieves who travel through time stealing precious objects, led by Penelope (Lisa Kudrow). Other cast members include Charlyne Yi, Tadhg Murphy, Rune Temte and Roger Jean Nsengiyumva.
The project was produced by Paramount Television Studios (now defunct), Anonymous Content, and MRC Television. Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Iain Morris served as co-showrunners, based on characters created by Gilliam and Michael Palin. Garrett Basch, Tim Coddington, and Jane Stanton of Handmade Films, which produced the original movie, were executive producers.
The cancellation of "Time Bandits" comes amidst reports that comments on the series' trailer on Apple TV+ have been disabled due to a high number of dislikes. The news also follows the cancellation of the "Star Wars" film project that Waititi was attached to direct.
The Rotten Tomatoes score for "Time Bandits" stands at 78% for critics and 48% for fans, reflecting a mixed audience reception.
