The choice is not entirely surprising. Despite the nostalgia factor and mostly positive reviews (78% on Rotten Tomatoes), Time Bandits, created by Jemaine Clement, Iain Morris and Taika Waititi, failed to attract a large enough audience and failed to crack Nielsen's Top 10 streaming rankings.
After the first round of the streaming wars, where gaining market share was the only goal, streamers have taken a more disciplined approach in their shift to profitability, scrutinizing big-budget scripted series like Time Bandits.
The cancellation ends a long journey that began more than six years ago when Apple TV+ acquired the rights to the beloved 1981 film for a series adaptation produced by the now-defunct Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content's AC Studios and MRC .
In Time Bandits, Kevin (Kal-El Tuck), an 11-year-old history buff, finds a portal in his wardrobe and encounters the eponymous crew of expert thieves. Led by Kudrow's Penelope, the bandits embark on epic adventures as evil forces threaten their conquests and life as they know it. As the group travels through time and space, the gang encounters fascinating worlds from the distant past as they search for treasure, depending on Kevin to shed light on each situation.
The series also stars Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Rune Temte, Charlyne Yi, Rachel House, Kiera Thompson, James Dryden, Felicity Ward, Francesca Mills and Imaan Hadchiti. Season 1 featured special guest appearances from Waititi and Clement.
