Summary
The 2024 Apple TV+ showTime Banditsis a fantasy adventure series with a strong ensemble cast that helps make it unique while honoring the source material. The series is based on the 1981 Terry GilliamMonty Python movieof the same name. Both the series and the film share the same premise and core story.Time Banditsfollows an 11-year-old history nerd named Kevin who travels through time with a group of bandits when they accidentally open a portal in his bedroom.
Time Banditsis sometimesunderrated as a 1980s fantasy movie. While it had its flaws,Time Banditsalso provided interesting commentary on modernity, religion, and history. It was only a matter of time before it was remade or adapted, and Apple began working with Gilliam, now an executive producer on the project, in 2018. The Apple TV+ adaptation makes some changes tothe originalTime Banditsmovie, with an entirely new cast and 10 episodes that allow the series to expand the story.
Lisa Kudrow As Penelope
Date Of Birth: June 17, 2025
Actor:Lisa Kudrow was born in Los Angeles, California. While she had some small television roles before its premiere,Kudrow’s breakthrough role was asPhoebe Buffay in the hit sitcomFriends.Her performance inFriendsearned her an Emmy Award in 1998, and it’s still the role she’s best known for. Kudrow later starred in the cult classic comedy movieRomy and Michele’s High School Reunionand created, produced, wrote, and starred in the mockumentary seriesThe Comeback. Kudrow’s comedic work has shined in numerous other films and TV shows.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion(1997)
HouseBroken(2021-2023)
Lady Capulet
Character:Lisa Kudrow plays Penelope inTime Bandits, the self-proclaimed leader of the bandits. She has a hard time letting go of control and admitting when she’s wrong, seeing herself as much smarter than her fellow bandits.
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Kal-El Tuck As Kevin
Date Of Birth: August 01, 2025
Actor:Kal-El Tuck was born in England and began acting professionally at 9 years old, starring in the short filmUnseeing Evil. His performance earned him the Best Youth Actor award at the 2020 Venice Shorts Film Festival.Time Banditsis Kal-El Tuck’s first major project.He previously appeared in one other short film and an episode ofAndy and the Band, butTime Banditsis his first leading television role.
Andy and the Band(2022)
Ben
Character:Kal-El Tuck stars inTime Banditsas Kevin Haddock, an 11-year-old whose love for history makes him an outcast with his peers and even his own family. The time bandits accidentally bring him back in time, with his history knowledge making him an asset to them.
Charlyne Yi As Judy
Date Of Birth: June 12, 2025
Actor:Charlyne Yi, who was born in Los Angeles, California,made her feature film debut inKnocked Up. They reprised theirKnocked Uprole inThis Is 40. Soon after making their debut, they executive produced, co-wrote, and starred inPaper Heart. Yi has voice-acted in multiple films and was nominated for an Annie Award forNext Gen. They are also known for starring inHouseseason 8. Yi describes themselves as “queer genderfluid enby” and uses they/them pronouns.
This is 40(2012)
Summer Camp Island(2018-2023)
Alice, Aeice & Additional Voices
Character:Charlyne Yi plays Judy inTime Bandits, one of the thieves who is supposedly an empath. Unfortunately and hilariously, Judy is, in her words, a “beginner” empath.
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Tadhg Murphy As Alto
Date Of Birth: July 20, 2025
Actor:Tadhg Murphy was born in Dublin, Ireland, and at age 13, lost his right eye in an accident while playing with a boy. He has incorporated his disability and artificial right eye in multiple roles.Tadhg Murphy’s breakthrough role was as Arne “One-Eye” inVikings. He is mostly known for his television work, with appearances in shows likeBlack Sails,Brassic, andConversations with Friends. Murphy was also featured in the movieThe Northman.
Brassic(2019-2023)
Gary Cullen
Character:Tadhg Murphy plays another one of the titular time-traveling thieves inTime Bandits, Alto. His character is the actor of the group, with his mastery of multiple accents and ability to perform meant to help them get out of sticky situations.
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Roger Jean Nsengiyumva As Widgit
Date Of Birth: July 29, 2025
Actor:Roger Jean Nsengiyumva was born in Kigali, Rwanda, but grew up in the United Kingdom after fleeing the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. When he was a teenager,Roger Jean Nsengiyumva had his first acting role inAfrica United. Most of Nsengiyumva’s work has been done on British television, with roles in ITV and BBC shows. This includes the BBC television seriesYou Don’t Know Me. Nsengiyumva’s biggest movie to date was 2018’sTomb Raider.
You Don’t Know Me (2021)
Jamil
Character:InTime Bandits, the movie character Fidgit becomes Widgit, played by Roger Jean Nsengiyumva. Widgit is the keeper of the map of time and space stolen from the Supreme Being, though he isn’t always great at reading it.
Rune Temte As Bittelig
Date Of Birth: July 17, 2025
Actor:Rume Temte was born in Solbergelva, Nedre Eiker, Norway, and played professional soccer for five years in the Norgewian football league, Eliteserien, before quitting to pursue acting. He began his career by appearing in Norwegian television shows, short films, and movies.Rune Temte’s first major role outside Norway was as Ubba inThe Last Kingdom. His most notable feature film role was as Bron-Char inCaptain Marvel.
The Swarm (2023)
Aaren Stone
Character:Rune Temte plays the last of the five bandits, Bittelig, inTime Bandits. Bittelig is the group’s muscle, as he’s as strong as “seven average-strength men.”
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Time Bandits Supporting Cast & Characters
Time Bandits Features A Talented Ensemble
Jemaine Clement as Pure Evil -New Zealand actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker Jemaine Clement plays Pure Evil inTime Bandits, which he co-created. He received award nominations for the seriesFlight of the Conchords, which he created with his musical comedy partner Bret McKenzie. Clement is also a co-creator ofWhat We Do in the Shadows.
Taika Waititi as Supreme Being -New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian Taika Waititi is a co-creator ofTime Banditsand plays Supreme Being. His most notable projects includeWhat We Do in the Shadows, theThorfilms,Jojo Rabbit,Reservation Dogs, andOur Flag Means Death.
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Kiera Thompson as Saffron -Child actor Kiera Thompson plays Kevin’s sister, Saffron, inTime Bandits. She has previously appeared inThe Salisbury Poisonings,Martyrs Lane, andDI Ray.
Rachel House as Fianna -New Zealand actor and director Rachel House, who plays villain Fianna inTime Bandits, has worked with Waititi on multiple projects. Along with acting in them, she has also served as an acting and dialogue coach on his films,BoyandJojo Rabbit. House is also known for voicing Gramma Tala inMoana.
Zoë Ventura as Cassandra -Australian actor Zoë Ventura, who plays the real-life Greek myth, Cassandra, is best known for starring in the Australian seriesPacked to the Rafters. She also had a recurring role on the famous Australian soap operaHome and Away.
James Dryden As Mr. Haddock -Actor James Dryden plays Kevin’s dad, Mr. Haddock, inTime Bandits. He has had roles inReady Player One,Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,Ladhood, andAll the Light We Cannot See.
Felicity Ward As Mrs. Haddock -Australian actor Felicity Ward, who plays Kevin’s mom, Mrs. Haddock, inTime Banditsis best known for her comedic work. She is known forThe Ronnie Johns Half Hour,Spicks and Specks,The Inbetweeners 2,Wakefield, andRichard Osman’s House of Gamesalong with her standup performances.
