WonderCon: ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’ Panel

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Amazon brought a first look at their new Thunderbirds Are Go series to WonderCon today. ICYMI, the show is a reinvention of the 1960s Gerry Anderson classic, that swaps supermarionation for CG and live-action model sets.

Piloting their remarkable cutting-edge Thunderbird Vehicles from the depths of the oceans to the highest reaches of space, Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon, and Alan Tracy return to perform impossible rescues across the globe. Lady Penelope (voiced by Rosamund Pike) is back in the mix, as is the original’s relentless baddie, The Hood.

Head Writer Rob Hoegee promises fun for OG Thunderbirds devotees. “There are a lot of great Easter eggs for fans of the original series,” he told fans.

David Graham reprises his role of Parker from the original series, but things haven’t changed much. “Parker is still an old reformed villain,” he said. “His relationship with Lady Penelope hasn’t changed — it’s deferential. She always has to keep an eye out for him.”

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the series revealed how the show’s impressive visuals are made at Weta Workshop. “The majority of the sets are live-action miniatures,” Hoegee said.

Fans were treated to a surprise showing of the first episode which wastes approximately ZERO time getting into the action with a dramatic rescue by Thunderbird 2.

What follows are multiple show-off sequences in which the rest of the characters and their impressive vehicles are introduced.

The top secret HQ of International Rescue is sure to be a favorite with kids. It has a cool retro design in which even the mood lighting serves a technical purpose.

There’s constant action and nonstop eye candy. It’s a quick rescue romp with the promise of drama to come — the Tracy brothers’ father went missing after an encounter with the resurgent villain, The Hood.

Thunderbirds Are Go hits Amazon Video on April 22nd with a special one-hour sneak preview on April 15. Be sure to check out all of Fandom’s WonderCon coverage here.

brianonthescreen
Hi! I'm the Director of Community Partnerships at Fandom. My team collaborates with gaming and entertainment partners to make Fandom a fun and exciting place for editors and other site users.