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With a strong ensemble cast that honors the source material and adds uniqueness, the fantasy adventure series 2024 Apple TV+ show Time Bandits is unique. The series derives from the same-named 1981 Terry Gilliam Monty Python film. The basic idea and central narrative of the series and the movie are same. Time Bandits centers on Kevin, an 11-year-old history buff who sets out across time with a band of robbers after inadvertently opening a portal in his bedroom.
Sometimes one undervalues Time Bandits as a 1980s fantasy film. Time Bandits offered fascinating analysis on modernism, religion, and history even if it had certain shortcomings. Apple started collaborating with Gilliam, now executive producer on the project, in 2018; it was only a matter of time until it was remade or adapted. With a completely new cast and ten episodes allowing the show to stretch the narrative, the Apple Tv+ adaptation alters some aspects of the original Time Bandits film.
The cast of Time Bandits comprises:
performer
Personality
LisaKudrow
Kal–El Tuck
Kevin
Taghg Murphy
Elevated
Roger Jean Nsengoyumva
Widegit
Temte from Rune
Bitteligh
Jemain Clement
Absolute Evil
Taeka Waititi
Supreme being
Actor: Los Angeles, California born Lisa Kudrow. Kudrow's breakthrough performance was as Phoebe Buffay in the popular sitcom Friends, although she had some little television roles before its premiere. Her performance in Friends brought her an Emmy Award in 1998; this is still the part for which she is most well-known. Later, Kudrow starred in the beloved classic comedy Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and developed, produced, wrote, and acted in the mockumentary series The Comeback. Many more movies and TV shows have highlighted Kudrow's humorous creations.
Notable Films and Television Shows
Title
Character:
Friends (1994– 2004).
Ursula Buffay and Phoebe Buffay
High School Reunion of Romy and Michele (1997)
Michele
Easy A (2010)
Mrs Griffith
Web Therapy 2008–2015
Fiona Wallace
The Comeback (2005–2014)
Valerie Cherish
The Boss Baby 2017
Mother
Bookwise (2019)
Charmaine <
House Broken (2021–2023)
Lady Caputy
Penelope in Time Bandits, the self-described bandleader, is Lisa Kudrow. Seeing herself as much smarter than her fellow criminals, she struggles to let go of control and acknowledge when she's wrong.
Born in England, Kal-el Tuck started performing professionally at nine years old and starred in the short film Unseeing Evil. At the 2020 Venice Shorts Film Festival, his performance brought him the Best Youth Actor prize. Time Bandits is Kal-El Tuck's first major project. He previously appeared in one other short film and an episode of Andy and the Band, but Time Bandits is his first leading television role.
Notable Movies & TV Shows
Title
Character:
Unseeing Evil (2020)
Tommy
Crackajack (2021)
Dylan
Andy and the Band (2022)
Ben
Character: Kal-el Tuck stars in Time Bandits as Kevin Haddock, an 11-year-old whose love for history makes him an outcast with his peers and even his own family. The time bandits accidentally bring him back in time, with his history knowledge making him an asset to them.
Actor: Charlyne Yi, who was born in Los Angeles, California, made her feature film debut in Knocked Up. They reprised their Knocked Up role in This Is 40. Soon after making their debut, they executive produced, co-wrote, and starred in Paper Heart. Yi has voice-acted in multiple films and was nominated for an Annie Award for Next Gen. They are also known for starring in House season 8. Yi describes themself as “queer genderfluid enby” and uses they/them pronouns.
Notable Movies & TV Shows
Title
Character
Knocked Up (2007)
Jodi
House (2011-2012)
Dr. Chi Park
This is 40 (2012)
Jodi
Steven Universe (2015-2018)
Ruby & Additional Voices
We Bare Bears (2015-2019)
Chloe
Summer Camp Island (2018-2023)
Alice, Aeice & Additional Voices
Character: Charlyne Yi plays Judy in Time Bandits, one of the thieves who is supposedly an empath. Unfortunately and hilariously, Judy is, in her words, a “beginner” empath.
Actor: Tadhg Murphy was born in Dublin, Ireland, and at age 13, lost his right eye in an accident while playing with a boy. He has incorporated his disability and artificial right eye in multiple roles. Tadhg Murphy's breakthrough role was as Arne “One-Eye” in Vikings. He is mostly known for his television work, with appearances in shows like Black Sails, Brassic, and Conversations with Friends. Murphy was also featured in the movie The Northman.
Notable Movies & TV Shows
Title
Character
Vikings (2013-2014)
Arne
Black Sails (2015)
Ned Low
How to Build a Girl (2019)
Andy Rock
The Northman (2022)
Eiríkr Blaze Eye
Conversations with Friends (2022)
Derek
Brassic (2019-2023)
Gary Cullen
Character: Tadhg Murphy plays another one of the titular time-traveling thieves in Time Bandits, Alto. His character is the actor of the group, with his mastery of multiple accents and ability to perform meant to help them get out of sticky situations.
Actor: Roger Jean Nsengiyumva was born in Kigali, Rwanda, but grew up in the United Kingdom after fleeing the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. When he was a teenager, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva had his first acting role in Africa United. Most of Nsengiyumva's work has been done on British television, with roles in ITV and BBC shows. This includes the BBC television series You Don't Know Me. Nsengiyumva's biggest movie to date was 2018's Tomb Raider.
Notable Movies & TV Shows
Title
Character
Africa United (2010)
Fabrice
Sixteen (2013)
Jumah
Armchair Detectives (2017)
DC Slater
Tomb Raider (2018)
Rog
Informer (2018)
Dadir Hassan
You Don't Know Me (2021)
Jamil
Character: In Time Bandits, the movie character Fidgit becomes Widgit, played by Roger Jean Nsengiyumva. Widgit is the keeper of the map of time and space stolen from the Supreme Being, though he isn't always great at reading it.
Actor: Rume Temte was born in Solbergelva, Nedre Eiker, Norway, and played professional soccer for five years in the Norwegian football league, Eliteserien, before quitting to pursue acting. He began his career by appearing in Norwegian television shows, short films, and movies. Rune Temte's first major role outside Norway was as Ubba in The Last Kingdom. His most notable feature film role was as Bron-Char in Captain Marvel.
Notable Movies & TV Shows
Title
Character
The Last Kingdom (2015)
Ubba
Torpederna (2017)
Frank
Fortitude (2017-2018)
Lars Ulvinaune
Captain Marvel (2019)
Bron-Char
The Machinery (2020)
Magnus
Poromafia (2023)
Rolf Karlsson
The Swarm (2023)
Aaren Stone
Character: Rune Temte plays the last of the five bandits, Bittelig, in Time Bandits. Bittelig is the group's muscle, as he's as strong as “seven average-strength men.”
Jemaine Clement as Pure Evil
New Zealand actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker Jemaine Clement plays Pure Evil in Time Bandits, which he co-created. He received award nominations for the series Flight of the Conchords, which he created with his musical comedy partner Bret McKenzie. Clement is also a co-creator of What We Do in the Shadows.
Taika Waititi as Supreme Being
New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian Taika Waititi is a co-creator of Time Bandits and plays Supreme Being. His most notable projects include What We Do in the Shadows, the Thor films, Jojo Rabbit, Reservation Dogs, and Our Flag Means Death.
Kiera Thompson as Saffron
Child actor Kiera Thompson plays Kevin's sister, Saffron, in Time Bandits. She has previously appeared in The Salisbury Poisonings, Martyrs Lane, and DI Ray.
Rachel House as Fianna
New Zealand actor and director Rachel House, who plays villain Fianna in Time Bandits, has worked with Waititi on multiple projects. Along with acting in them, she has also served as an acting and dialogue coach on his films, Boy and Jojo Rabbit. House is also known for voicing Gramma Tala in Moana.
Zoë Ventura as Cassandra
Australian actor Zoë Ventura, who plays the real-life Greek myth, Cassandra, is best known for starring in the Australian series Packed to the Rafters. She also had a recurring role on the famous Australian soap opera Home and Away.
James Dryden As Mr. Haddock
Actor James Dryden plays Kevin's dad, Mr. Haddock, in Time Bandits. He has had roles in Ready Player One, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Ladhood, and All the Light We Cannot See.
Felicity Ward As Mrs. Haddock
Australian actor Felicity Ward, who plays Kevin's mom, Mrs. Haddock, in Time Bandits is best known for her comedic work. She is known for The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, Spicks and Specks, The Inbetweeners 2, Wakefield, and Richard Osman's House of Games along with her standup performances.