Jemaine Clement on Time Bandits remake: Why no dwarfs and why Taika Waititi is God

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s television remake of the 1981 Terry Gilliam, movie Time Bandits is finally out this week. The Apple TV+ family show, about 11-year-old Kevin joining a hopeless band of time-travelling thieves led by Lisa Kudrow, takes some liberties with the source material but also expands on the universe of the original movie, which had its origins in the comedy of Monty Python – the film was written by Michael Palin and starred John Cleese as Robin Hood. It has endured as a cult favourite among fans who were kids at the time, Clement and Waititi included. The story of the film and how its remake became one of the biggest NZ screen productions in recent history is here. During Clement’s international publicity rounds for the show, the Listener was able to grab him for a 10-minute chat.

Do you remember seeing Time Bandits as a kid?

Yeah, it was in Masterton at the Regent cinema, which still exists – it’s the Regent 3. It’s got two more. I do remember it very well, because it’s so unique and funny and spooky. To me, the Robin Hood scene is one of the best comedy scenes in any movie. And the funniness of that scene is what I kind of always hope to achieve. That’s kind of a goal for me, trying to make something that is so unforgettable. And it was kind of a spooky ending for a family film – it divides people. When people have been discussing the remake, some have said, “They have to keep that ending” and then other people have been “I couldn’t watch that. I was traumatised by that end.” Very different opinions. But it’s one of the things that makes it unique.

When you were first asked about doing a remake, did you have an attitude towards remakes in general?

In general, I’m not that interested in them, and I’ve said no to other remakes, but this one – perhaps it was a mistake – but I just went back to that wish that I was Kevin when I saw the movie. I just wanted to be that kid going through time and that was the closest that I’ll be able to get, as far as I can see. Unless I find a magical wardrobe. Also, at the time I was asked, I was remaking our What We Do in the Shadows as a TV show in America, and I was in the second season. And while I am proud of that show, I was also thinking, “I cannot wait to not have to do this”. When Taika said, “What do you think of this?” I was really glad. I immediately wrote down an idea for it of what the TV show would be.

There are quite a few people who were involved in Wellington Paranormal, writing, directing or appearing in the show. Did Paranormal influence Time Bandits, in a way?

Yeah. I loved hearing from people who watched Wellington Paranormal with their families. It happened a little bit with Flight of the Conchords, but occasionally it would be inappropriate to explain what a threesome is, so couldn’t all be watched by families. But it was great to have Wellington Paranormal when we did make it a family show … it was really satisfying to hear that people would watch it together with their kids or with their parents. It has some scary bits and lots of jokes. And I guess Bandits is similar – some scary bits but lots of jokes.

This is a much bigger show, though there are probably quite a few zeros on the budget of Time Bandits. Was that intimidating? Or was having done What We Do in the Shadows in America a stepping stone