A blast from the past: ITV announces Thunderbirds 2015

Those of you who indulged in CITV’s Old Skool weekend are in for yet another treat with the return of 60s sci-fi adventure drama, Thunderbirds.

ITV Studios recently announced plans to bring the iconic Thunderbirds are Go! back to life 50 years after it first debuted on our screens.

The classic revival of the children’s series will air in 2015 with 26 brand new episodes that will see the legendary Tracy brothers once again piloting their vehicles as they attempt a new series of mission impossibles to rescue the troubled.

The show set on the secret location of Tracy Island will air on CITV and each episode will be a pleasing 30 minutes long.

ITV Studios gave the green light to the new series and confirmed rumours that they would collaborate with New Zealand entertainment production house Pukeko Pictures and Avatar animation studios Weta Workshop to reinvent the legendary kids show.

Modern twist

The modern remake will see Gerry and Sylvia Anderson‘s classic series recreated using 21st century animation and live-action model sets to give the series a modern twist that both parents and children can enjoy.

ITV, who celebrated their 30th birthday last month, are apparently recreating the ‘supermarionation’ drama, in tribute to the creator, who died in December last year.

Richard Taylor, the co-owner of independent house Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop spoke of his enthusiasm in seeing his favourite childhood drama come to life, half a century after it first appeared on television boxes.

The studio’s staff also expressed their pride in being able to create a new era of Thunderbirds – a drama we thought we’d all seen the end of.

Richard Taylor 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.”

“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.”

Bringing back Tracy Island will no doubt be a challenging task for producers and animators alike, nevertheless, we’re eager to see what CITV will bring us just less than two years from now.

But here’s to hoping there aren’t any major changes as we don’t want to see our beloved childhood drama ripped apart by 21st century visuals and not so classic storylines. After all, International Rescue would be lost without Lady Penelope, and Thunderbirds just wouldn’t be Thunderbirds without the same 60s faces!

Thankfully, ITV say that the working progress drama will feature ALL of the classic characters, and the story will be just as we remember – except with a 21st century twist.

The head of programming at CITV said the remake is an opportunity to be ‘relished’ and assured us that we would not be disappointed with the outcome.

“Thunderbirds Are Go! will be a hugely exciting new show for the CITV audience. Thunderbirds is a much-loved British institution with significant global recognition, and our audience will relish this timely opportunity to discover the new series fifty years on.”

Are you all for a 21st century Tracy Island and who was your favourite Thunderbirds character? Lady P, Brains or maybe one of the Tracy’s? Let us know below.