Despite positive reviews, bankable star Lisa Kudrow as a main character and much-loved source material, Apple TV+ opted to pull the plug on its fantasy adventure series Time Bandits after just one season, according to a new report.
Based on Terry Gilliam’s cult classic 1981 film (but rendered in more family-friendly fashion), the show’s 10-episode first season — now streaming on Apple TV+ — will have to stand alone.
Apple TV+ cancels <em>Time Bandits</em> after 1 season
Apple’s decision not to renew the series comes about a month after the first season’s 10-episode run ended, according to Deadline. So all 10 episodes are available to stream, but no more will follow.
Powerhouse trio Taika Waititi (Our Flag Means Death, Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows) and Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners) created the series, which stars Lisa Kudrow of Friends fame. The show generated considerable buzz for its connection to the beloved 1981 film by Gilliam. But despite garnering mostly positive reviews — with a 78% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (but only a 48% audience rating) — and pulling in at least a decent audience, Time Bandits failed to capture a large enough audience to justify its continuation.
Industry insiders suggest that while the show performed well in the United Kingdom — both the original movie’s home country and the setting for the series — it struggled to make a significant impact in the broader streaming landscape. Notably, the series was unable to break into Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming rankings, a key success metric.
Streaming paradigm: No more growth at all costs
The downfall of “Time Bandits” seems to reflect a shifting paradigm in the streaming wars. As major platforms like Apple TV+ transition from a growth-at-all-costs mentality to a more profit-oriented approach, high-budget scripted series face increasing pressure. They must deliver substantial viewership numbers to warrant renewal.
This development brings to a close a project that had been in the works for more than six years. Apple TV+ originally acquired the rights to adapt Gilliam’s film back in 2018, with production support from Paramount Television Studios (now defunct), Anonymous Content’s AC Studios,and MRC.
Time-traveling thieves
The series centers around Kevin (Kal-El Tuck), an 11-year-old history enthusiast who discovers a time portal in his wardrobe. This gateway introduces him to a group of time-traveling thieves, led by Kudrow’s character, Penelope. Together, they embark on a series of adventures through different historical periods, facing various challenges and adversaries along the way.
In addition to its star-studded creative team and Kudrow, Time Bandits boasted an ensemble cast including Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Rune Temte, Charlyne Yi and Rachel House. The first season also featured special guest appearances by creators Waititi and Clement.
An unforgiving landscape
While the series may not have achieved the viewership numbers Apple TV+ had hoped for, it represented an ambitious attempt to bring Gilliam’s unique vision to a new generation of viewers. The cancellation serves as a reminder of the increasingly competitive and unforgiving nature of the streaming landscape, where even projects with strong pedigrees and positive critical reception can struggle to find their footing.
For now, fans of Time Bandits will have to content themselves with Gilliam’s original or the single season on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ cancels <em>Time Bandits</em>, but you can still watch 10 episodes
Even with no second season in the works, you could still binge Time Bandits season 1. Why not? Apple TV+ is available by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 515 wins and 2,308 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
In addition to award-winning movies and TV shows (including breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso), Apple TV+ offers a variety of documentaries, dramas, comedies, kids shows and more.
