Taika Waititi has spoken about why his Apple TV+ series “Time Bandits”, a reimagining of the 1981 cult classic movie, was canceled after just one season despite positive reviews. The show followed 11-year-old Kevin as he joined time-traveling bandits, with Waititi as the Supreme Being and Jemaine Clement as Pure Evil, aiming to bring the movie’s surreal style to modern audiences.
In an interview, Waititi said the cancellation was due to high production costs, regardless of its 76% Rotten Tomatoes score. He also joked about shooting in New Zealand being his favorite part.
What the show’s cancellation means is that it’s part of a broader trend. Similar to the cancelation of “Our Flag Means Death”, “Time Bandits” struggled to draw general audiences, getting a 48% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original movie’s higher scores. Streaming platforms are quick to cancel shows that don’t achieve high viewership or global buzz, leaving many stories unfinished.
“Time Bandits” was a charming, offbeat fantasy series, and its cancellation highlights the tough streaming landscape where good shows need big audience engagement to justify budgets. While disappointing, Waititi’s dedication to creative risks is still notable, and with other projects in development, he has chances to keep delighting audiences.
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