It was no shock that Apple TV+ revived “Time Bandits,” with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement infusing their surrealist flair into the project. However, shortly after the first season’s finale, the series was canceled. In a recent interview, Taika Waititi explained why.
Rusteen Honardoost for SlashFilm:
Ahead of the premiere of “Interior Chinatown,” another surreal genre-bending TV show Waititi produced, he sat down for a career retrospective with Entertainment Weekly. As Waititi lifts up the poster for “Time Bandits,” he squeals with delight, throwing praise at star Lisa Kudrow’s work on the series in its “one glorious season.” He then goes on to voice the role of an anonymous fan asking why the show was canceled:
“‘Why didn’t it have another season, Taika, tell us, tell us!’ Alright, I’ll tell you. Too expensive.”
In an effort to replicate the handcrafted feel of the original film, the “Time Bandits” series used everything from miniatures, animatronics, and oil paintings as its band of plucky plunderers. Doing these intensive practical effects doesn’t come cheap, and it looks like the hefty price tag was too much for Apple TV to cover.
From the way he describes it, it doesn’t sound like Waititi regrets making the series, saying that his favorite part was getting to shoot the series in New Zealand, “being at home, with my countrymen.”
MacDailyNews Take: “Too expensive” is only half of the reason why “Time Bandits” was canceled. There’s no such thing as “too expensive*,” just “too expensive” for what it delivered. Basically, it had a budget that everyone agreed to beforehand, but the series didn’t deliver enough eyeballs to justify its budget.
*The production/marketing budget for F1 The Movie is reported to be between $300 million and $400 million. As of July 20, 2025, F1 The Movie had grossed over $463 million worldwide, with approximately $153.9 million domestically (U.S. and Canada) and $309.2 million internationally.
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how about the screwed over a classic movie with bad performances, actors and weird stories
This makes me sad because I actually liked the show. I think I would have loved it even more as a kid. I wish Apple had given it another season.
I attended San Diego Comic Con this year and was surprised they didn’t promote it there. The convention was filled with sci-fi and fantasy fans, along with people who enjoy nostalgia and other nerdy interests. Plus, there was a huge panel for What We Do in the Shadows, attracting fans of Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s comedy.
I’m not sure how much it costs to host a big panel and bring in some actors, but it seems like it would be worth it to attract several hundred people interested in the show. They could then spread the word to their friends. Even recording the panel and posting it on YouTube would be a great marketing strategy. It feels like a big missed opportunity. But then again, Apple’s marketing often seems unsure of what to do.