As a longtime fan of Terry Gilliam’s work, I was thrilled to hear about the new “Time Bandits” series. Having watched the original film multiple times as a kid, its terrifying yet imaginative story left a lasting impression on me. When I learned that the show was inspired by the movie but with some differences, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation.
As a movie lover, I can’t help but acknowledge the significant impact Iain Morris had on British television. For many of us, he will always be remembered as one half of the brilliant duo behind “The Inbetweeners.” This groundbreaking sitcom, which aired from 2008 to 2010, introduced us to a group of underdog teenage boys whose raw and outrageous humor struck a chord with audiences. The show was such a success that it led to two hugely popular films.
Since then, the versatile artist has kept a full work schedule. He brought back some of “The Inbetweeners” main cast for the BBC show “White Gold.” He also created another BBC comedy named “First Team.” Moreover, he’s involved in FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” co-wrote Taika Waititi’s soccer comedy “Next Goal Wins,” and was recently selected to direct a Netflix romantic comedy titled “My Oxford Year.”
Over the past few years, he has been dedicated to producing “Time Bandits” for Apple TV+, a modern adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s beloved 1981 fantasy comedy about a boy who journeys through time with a band of thieves, many of whom are actors with dwarfism. In the original production, there was an impressive ensemble cast that included Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ralph Richardson, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Peter Vaughan, and Gilliam’s “Monty Python” collaborators John Cleese and Michael Palin. This film was a significant success for George Harrison’s HandMade Films, debuting at the top of the U.S. box office and generating over $40 million in revenue from a production budget of just $5 million.
I had the privilege of working on a TV show alongside Morris, Waititi, and Clement as co-writers. We also took on the roles of showrunners together. This fantastic production is brought to you by Paramount TV, and boasts an impressive cast headed by Lisa Kudrow. Although the majority of the original film was shot in the U.K., we filmed a significant portion of our new adaptation around windy Wellington, New Zealand. I can personally attest that during our time there, I felt as if our house might be carried away by the gusts.
In an exclusive interview with EbMaster prior to the premiere on Wednesday, Morris shares insights about delving deeper into history than depicted in the movie, clearing up misconceptions regarding Gilliam’s absence from set or New Zealand, and upcoming projects at Fudge Park, a production company Morris co-founded with Damon Beesley. Additionally, Morris addresses allegations made by Charlyne Yi concerning an alleged physical assault on the set of “Time Bandits” involving a fellow actor.
How did you get involved in a show like “Time Bandits”?
Years ago, Taika and Jemaine contacted me with a project proposal, possibly even before the COVID-19 pandemic. They mentioned they required assistance in writing a pilot script and invited me to collaborate with them. Given our past working relationship and my admiration for both of their work, I gladly accepted.
But I also realized that it’s possibly because I’m a bit boring about history. We’ve been friends for 20 years at least now, and I think I’ve just been boring them about history so much that they thought, “Who’s someone that we can work with who knows a little bit about history? Well, Iain’s always boring on about it.”
Were you a fan of the original film?
As a young teenager, I wasn’t old enough to see it when it initially aired. However, my fondness for “Monty Python” was so great that I became determined to watch everything featuring John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam. Despite being scary as a child, I managed to watch the show a few times.
How close is the new series to the original?
The concept is somewhat reminiscent of it, but there are numerous shared elements such as Kevin, the map, the portal, and the band of bumbling thieves. However, I believe we delve more profoundly into the characters of the groups, and explore a greater variety of locations.
But no dwarves in it this time.
I’ve been deeply impressed by this recent production, as it brings to life a world inhabited by tiny beings. It’s not just a simple retelling of the original film, though. Instead, it offers a fresh perspective. The cast is exceptionally diverse in numerous aspects, and we put considerable thought into ensuring that representation. Diversity was a key consideration for us as we strove to progress, and I believe we’ve managed to weave this theme seamlessly throughout the narrative.
As a film enthusiast, I ponder over the decision made in 2024 not to include a group of dwarves portrayed by actors with dwarfism, which was not an issue back in 1981. The world has evolved significantly since then, and it’s important for us to be sensitive and inclusive in our storytelling.
Yes, we welcome and hire individuals with diverse heights; some are quite tall while others are relatively short.
In other words, you have more time at your disposal than a lengthy film. Do you choose to include an greater number of historical figures than Napoleon and Agamemnon?
Sure thing!
In the movie, there’s an impressive moment when Agamemnon’s disguise is removed, revealing Sean Connery beneath. Does the film feature any unexpected appearances by stars?
Mark Gatiss’s portrayal of the Earl of Sandwich was a delightful surprise for me. I’m a huge fan of his work, so getting to meet him in New Zealand was an enjoyable experience. The show also featured some other notable celebrities. Lisa Kudrow stood out amongst them as the leading actress.
Were any of the team behind the original involved? Any word from Terry Gilliam?
As someone who has worked in the film industry for decades and lived in Wellington, New Zealand during the production of several movies, I can tell you that HandMade Films had a unique approach to filmmaking. Contrary to some rumors, they didn’t interfere much with the creative process but offered valuable feedback through notes. I have a personal connection to Michael Palin and his son, who is my dear friend. So, whenever we would chat, he would always wish me luck with my projects.
As someone who values transparency and respect for all individuals, I can only imagine the turmoil that ensued when Charlyne Yi accused a fellow cast member of physical assault during our production. At the time, I was taken aback by the allegations and felt it was crucial to prioritize everyone’s safety and wellbeing.
During that period, the situation left everyone deeply affected. Our team was quite close-knit, so every action was carefully carried out with the right people in place – the HR heads at Paramount conducted a thorough investigation and kept everyone informed. The process was executed meticulously and thoroughly, leading us to the determinations we ultimately reached.
As one of the co-showrunnners, did you speak to Charlyne about the situation?
As a film enthusiast, I was brought into the loop and tasked with ensuring everyone’s safety during an unfortunate incident. Consequently, my role involved conducting a meticulous investigation and discussing our findings to ensure all procedures were carried out correctly. The entire process left me feeling somber, but I’m confident that every measure was taken seriously from the get-go. Paramount’s investigation was executed with utmost care and professionalism.
But they’re still in the finished series?
Certainly, I agree. They put on an impressive show despite the challenges, and although it was a brief experience, we truly enjoyed ourselves.
“Time Bandits” is one of a few projects I’ve seen recently that are either sequels to or reimaginings of cult films made decades ago. The original “Time Bandits” came out in 1982. Is this due to a dearth of new ideas or the rediscovery of beloved old stories to breathe new life into?
Ha, well I wonder which one I’ll go for! Let me think. But I would say it’s a reimagining of new ideas to reintroduce them to new audiences. I think “Time Bandits” is actually almost the lost classic. You mention it to a lot of people and they’ve never heard of it, but you meet other people and it’s their favorite film. But they are quite rare. So if you’re bringing these brilliant ideas that people have and these brilliant worlds, and expanding and changing and introducing them to a new audience, I think it’s great. Some of the best songs ever made are cover versions.
“The film ‘Time Bandits‘ was not produced under Fudge Park, our joint production company with Damon Beesley, instead it was made separately.”
Certainly!
I see you’re also set to direct the Netflix comedy “My Oxford Year.”
Sure thing!
As a movie reviewer, I’ve pondered this question myself: Could “The Inbetweeners,” a beloved series from the past, possibly get a reboot or an exciting comeback, following our favorite characters as they enter middle age? It’s a common query, isn’t it? The allure of revisiting cherished stories is undeniable.
Someone is expected to relieve me of this task, much like in the movie “Time Bandits.” Later on, they could mention that Iain Morris visited the production site – in Guatemala.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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2024-07-25 00:18