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Nine nabs Thunderbirds reboot for 2015

Yep. Thunderbirds Are Go! on GO!

2013-02-05_1107Nine Network will air the 2015 reboot Thunderbirds Are Go!, being produced byITV Studios and New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures in collaboration with Weta Workshop.

The new 26 x 30’ production, using CGI animation and live model sets, will air in its children’s programming block on GO! from Spring 2015.

The cast is voiced by Rosamund Pike (The World’s End, Gone Girl) as Lady Penelope and David Graham reprising his role as chauffeur and International Rescue agent Parker. Inventor Brains will be voiced by Kayvan Novak (Fonejacker, Facejacker). Tracy brothers Alan and Scott Tracy are both played by Rasmus Hardiker (Saxondale, Lead Balloon). David Menkin has been cast as both Virgil and Gordon Tracy. The fifth Tracy brother, John, will be played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Love Actually, Game of Thrones).

Martin Hersov, Director of Commercial Development at Nine Network said: “The classic Thunderbirds episodes have been a regular feature on the Nine schedule since the very beginning, so we are extremely pleased to be working with ITV Studios Global Entertainment on this exciting new series. We look forward to working with the full range of partners for this iconic property within the Australian market.”

Maria Kyriacou, MD of ITV Studios Global Entertainment and ROW added: “Thunderbirds is an iconic and much-loved show, so it’s no surprise that we have had such enormous interest in Thunderbirds Are Go! from potential TV, digital and licensing partners worldwide. The show has long been close to the hearts of Australian audiences, so we are delighted that new and existing fans alike will have the opportunity to enjoy the new series.”

Nine also aired the original by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson in the 1960s.

6 Responses

  1. Time for a repeat of the CGI Captain Scarlet CGI series, which wasn’t that bad (except for the Lancaster episode.)

    Article is topical as well, as the voice actor for Captain Scarlet passed away on the same day as Casey Kasem.

  2. Most repeated shows? The Baron and Spyforce would have to come close as well.

    Closely followed by Skippy and The Avengers. All are currently screening on Nine.

  3. What made Thunderbirds great was the models and how they shot them. They invented the “rolling road” method of shooting model vehicles, they drove the invention of thrustless rocket motors add the brilliant attention to detail and many innovations they brought to the whole method which was not surpassed until Star Wars in 1977.

    It also had a strong Australian connection with Ray Barret being one of the voice cast.

    So bearing that in mind, I think a CGI version is facing an uphill struggle.

  4. Please someone correct me if I’m wrong and it’s something I’ve thought about before but I could swear that the original Thunderbirds has been on Channel 9 (now on GO!) in that same Saturday morning 6am timeslot, week after week, without so much as a break, ever since I can remember, for 30 years at least if not more maybe even 40.

    But I just don’t know how this could be since it only has 32 episodes, it would undoubtedly have to be the most repeated show in Australian television history.

    And to add to that in all that time I have not watched it once, except maybe seeing bits of it once or twice as a kid.

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