Thunderbirds are Go! (again)

ITV Studios and New Zealand-based Pukeko Pictures, in collaboration with Weta Workshop (Avatar, The Lord of the Rings etc) are to co-produce Thunderbirds are Go! a new children’s series set to debut on ITV and UK’s CITV Channel in 2015.

This re-invention of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s series will be produced using a mix of CGI animation and live-action model sets. Featuring, International Rescue, Thunderbirds are Go! will blast the five brave Tracy brothers back on to television screens piloting their vehicles into impossible rescues across the globe. Thunderbirds are Go! will be executive produced by Estelle Hughes for ITV Studios, Giles Ridge for ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) and Richard Taylor and Andrew Smith for Pukeko Pictures. The series head writer is Rob Hoegee (Generator Rex, Teen Titans, Ben 10, Slugterra.)

Denise O Donoghue, Managing Director of ITV told SFcrowsnest, “Thunderbirds is a highly respected brand that continues to hold recognition around the world. This cult series is often credited as changing the history of animation and action-adventure, and we look forward to taking the show to another level while retaining the much-loved heritage that has endured over the past fifty years.”

Richard Taylor, co-owner of Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop, said,” Thunderbirds was a hugely influential television series in my childhood. Having watched it originally in black and white, it was only years later that I discovered the full and rich world that Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Derek Meddings, Mike Trimm and their team created. It is thrilling therefore to think we have the opportunity to work with ITV on this new series inspired by this most wonderful of British shows. I personally, together with the teams here at Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop, look forward to designing and creating an inspirational world that will engage the imagination of a whole new generation as it did for us nearly half a century ago.”