Gerry Anderson announces new series of "THUNDERBIRDS"

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12160694

Well, this is somewhat surprising. During an interview about the new Royal Mail Thunderbirds stamps (which are rather nifty in their own right) at the very, very end of the interview, Gerry Anderson somewhat enthusiastically states "i'm making a new series of Thunderbirds - and that's official!".


Now, being a fan of his stuff since before I could talk, I know full well that his endeavors don't always work out. For example, take his CG Captain Scarlet which really was a pretty good series in its own right, but apparently because it was aired as part of the shitty "ministry of mayhem" it never got an official TV premiere, and some loophole prevented it from counting in ratings and thus not making any money if I remember correctly (I could be wrong).

MoM and any other kids stuff on ITV is long gone....but does that mean this show could be headed to the citv channel? That'd kill it quick I feel. Personally i've wanted a "grown up", 24 style live action Thunderbirds for some time now, and it doesnt sound like this is what were getting. But, if its anything like CG Scarlet was, i'll be sure to tune in.

What do you guys think?

 

I'm kinda 'meh' on it. I mean, the charm of the Gerry Anderson stuff was the way the marionettes worked. The CGI Scarlett was fine but I couldn't really get excited about it.

Unfortunately kids today don't really seem to care for SFX where you can literally see the strings being pulled. Adults who remember the original will go 'Aww cute' but few will actually tune in, I'm betting.

A grown up Thunderbirds could be interesting, but then again, it was a kids' show, purists will howl in outrage and the very title will probably put off others. It's a hard one to market.

Perhaps Anderson should try to sell it to the BBC, try to put it in the same bracket as the new Dr Who series.

 

Thats how I would approach it. Last time I checked the BBC had the terrestrial broadcast rights to classic Thunderbirds, so to me that would make them the first choice. With the demise of Robin Hood the BBC could put it in the Saturday evening Merlin/Doctor Who slot.
And I would hope it would be a serious live action show that was recognisably Thunderbirds, particularly where the hardware (including Tracy Island) is concerned.

 

Depends on what you mean by "grown-up." I don't think Thunderbirds should be grim, gritty and serious, but they should avoid sinking to the levels of the Spy Kids knock-off the 2004 movie was.

 

Oh, I don't want it to be Battlestar levels of grit and depression - something akin to the next generation in terms of "grown up" tone, but with more action and things blowing up.

 

Agreed, that is the way it should be done...avoid the 2004 movie mistake.

 

The CG Captain Scarlet was pretty decent and and not having seen the original it wasn't from any nostalgia.

I don't know about doing it in live action, I think Gerry Anderson's stuff needs a style and verve that I don't know would work in today's television climate. Though Doctor Who does often come close to what I'm picturing for it to work. I guess the UK has more of that type of bright action such as Who, Merlin, Robin Hood, Primeval, etc. than here in the States so you never know.

 

Best news I heard all day. But drop the CG please.

 

If this is CGI I'll never watch it.

 

Now I remember a while back that CGI/Marionette hybrid promo...wait for it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNF5PXBAHkg

If they do away with that godawful TB1 mock up, this could be alright...

EDIT: and doing away with the cheese would help too.

 

the problem with the CG Captain Scarlet was that because it was part of MoM, you nevver knew when it was going to be on, it was interrupted by an ad break and you had to put up with that twat Mulhern and Holly Willoughby (less of a trial) talking in bumpers around the ads.

 

I read somewhere he's signed a NDA with the BBC. So it looks like their making it (which is a relief).

EDIT: Or not.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jan/12/thunderbirds-new-series

 

Anderson doesn't look bad.

I'm glad they mentioned Supercar. I loved that, and Fireball XL-5 when I was a kid. The robot on Fireball was the cleverest thing.

 

You actually made me shudder.

God, I can't believe what a crapfest that film was. It disappointed the hell out of me. Heck, it actually made me angry.

And what is this "MoM" of which some speak?

 

SQUEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

There's Thunderbirds stamps!!!!!!!1! This day gets better and better!

 

And their animated! And if you buy the gift pack you get a gorgeous Century 21 style mini comic about the making of thunderbirds.

 

I loved the original 60's series, so I hope it's more along those lines rather than the dreadful live-action movie.

 

^ It never happened. Just forget about it.

The movie I mean