Thunderbirds reboot gets green light

A new version of the classic puppet show Thunderbirds has been announced.

ITV Studios and prodcuera Pukeko and Weta Workshop will make the new Thunderbirds, 50 years after it first launched on TV.

The reboot , Thunderbirds are Go!, will air on ITV and its kids channel CiTV in 2015. The puppetry of the original will be replaced with a mix of CGI animation and live-action in the new 26x30mins series.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment will handle international sales.

The show was commissioned by Jamila Metran, head of programming for CiTV, and is currently in pre-production. It will be executive produced by Estelle Hughes for ITV Studios, Giles Ridge for ITV Studios Global Entertainment and Richard Taylor and Andrew Smith for Pukeko Pictures. The series head writer is Rob Hoegee (Generator Rex).

Denise O Donoghue, managing director ITV Studios UK, said: “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.”

Gerry Anderson, creator of Thunderbirds and numerous other iconic kids series, passed away last December.