In early March Fanderson was invited to ITV’s offices in Gray’s Inn Road, London to interview the voice cast of Thunderbirds Are Go. Now, on the even of the series’s network premiere, we bring you the second of three full-length interviews. We speak to three more leading men of the new series, including one legend of the original Thunderbirds:
- David Graham (Parker) – DG
- Kayvan Novak (Brains) – KN
- Andres Williams (The Hood) – AW
Questions:
David Graham – I bet you didn’t think you’d be doing this 50 years on, did you?
Have you spoken to Shane and Matt about the new series?
Were you familiar with the original series?
What can you tell us about the Hood?
Kayvan – did you get any tips from David on how to voice Brains?
Have you played Parker any differently this time around?
Most children won’t be familiar with your characters from the original series, so could you tell us a bit about who you play?
Do you think that the ‘tech’ in Thunderbirds now reflects what we have in real life?
Brains would have been seen as a geek in the 1960s, but now he is ‘cool’, right…?
What did you make of Rosamund’s interpretation of Lady Penelope?
Parker looks very much the same – do you think that was a very conscious decision?
The storylines sometimes have ecological themes, do they also reference things such as terrorism?
Have you heard the theme music, and does it pay homage to the original?
Is it daunting for actors, coming into such a big show as this?
Do you think it will cross generations, or is it just for a certain age group?
Cool gadgets and technology – what are your favourites?
Is it important for kids to see stuff that’s physical, that’s really ‘there’ on the screen?
A second series has already been confirmed – are you all signed up?
Are you aware of any developments in the second series?
(To David Graham) I bet you didn’t think you’d be doing this 50 years on, did you?
DG:
It’s amazing. I’m lucky to be around. I’ve been in reminiscing mode today.
KN:
We’re lucky to have you!
DG:
Ah, thanks!
Have you spoken to Shane and Matt about the new series?
DG:
Yes, I had lunch with Shane a couple of weeks ago and we’ll be going up to Scarborough for a big sci-fi weekend soon – Jamie Anderson is going to be there – Gerry’s son.
How easy was it for you all to say ‘yes’ to the new series?
KN:
Very easy. I was very excited – I was excited when I first heard they were remaking it. I got in touch with my agent and said ‘please get me seen for this’ and I auditioned and got the part.
“Estelle Hughes and Giles Ridge came up to see me and we went out for coffee. I think they were checking me out to see if I was still in one piece, and if I can still deliver! “
– David Graham
Were you familiar with the original series?
KN:
Yes, I was, as it’s pretty iconic
AW:
He was familiar with it (pointing to DG).
DG:
Estelle Hughes and Giles Ridge came up to see me and we went out for coffee. I think they were checking me out to see if I was still in one piece, and to see if I can still deliver! Fortunately I can, and it’s great to be on board, because the character is still very real to me. I didn’t have to dig him up from the past. During the interim I was always doing bits and pieces – records, interviews, and being asked to do the voice, so it’s in my DNA.
AW:
I thought – what a cool audition to go for – the baddie – and then to get it, I wasn’t expecting that. But yeah, that was cool.
“From what I saw of the Hood from watching the re-runs, my main question was ‘where was he from?’”
– Andres Williams
What can you tell us about your character, the Hood?
AW:
I remember when we first sat down for the reading they were handing out mock-ups of the characters and there wasn’t one for the Hood – no one knew what he looked like! So I didn’t have anything to draw on visually at that point. We all know what he looked like in the original and I don’t think he looks too different. From what I saw of the Hood from watching the re-runs, my main question was ‘where was he from?’ No idea. It says Malaysia on Wikipedia, but I don’t know… But I think he’s maybe a bit more ‘wholesome’ or well-rounded now, perhaps he’s now more of an ‘arch-baddie’ kind of character. He seems to have a British accent – sometimes.
Kayvan, you voice Brains. I wondered if you got any tips from David, as he voiced Brains in the original series?
KN:
He did –
DG:
I wouldn’t presume… !
I mean in terms of character, or motivation…
KN:
Well, he was kicking off and saying ‘hold on I want to play Brains, I played him in the original!’ But no, not really. I didn’t actually realise until the read-through that he also played Brains, because Parker is so iconic, as is Brains. But I didn’t get any tips because when I auditioned for Thunderbirds I auditioned for a few characters, but my characterisation of Brains seemed to really win them over and they begged me to do it. Of course, I said ‘no, no…’ And then David got on the phone and said –
DG:
You’ve got to use it!
KN:
‘You’ve got to use it, man! This is the best Brains interpretation since mine.’
DG:
He’s paying me commission.
“The whole thing is so iconic that if it was made totally differently it would have been a betrayal.”
– David Graham
What do you think of the new series?
DG:
It’s made for a new generation, but I think the special effects are mind-boggling. It’s updated but true to the original. The concept of the Thunderbird rescue operations, where you get the baddies in the end, is the same, but it’s been made for both the old fans and a whole new audience, who will hopefully be bowled over by it. I haven’t changed though!
Was it important for you that it did stay true to the original?
DG:
Yes, very. The whole thing is so iconic that if it was made totally differently it would have been a betrayal, and it’s not – it’s an updated version of the original, with new technology and CGI. I think it’s going to be the best of both worlds.
Have you played Parker any differently this time around?
DG:
No, ‘he’s the same’ (said in Parker’s voice –ed.). You know, he hasn’t changed in my mind, I have no difficulty in recreating him because he’s been so good for me. In fact, in the original – and I’ve told this story before – Gerry and I went for lunch in a pub in Cookham, and he called the wine waiter over, and he actually said ‘would you like to see the wine list, sir?’ So you see, he was the basis for the original Parker, and I played around with the aitches and the eccentricities. I owe a lot to this waiter, who’s up in the sky now.
Most children won’t be familiar with your characters from the original series, so could you tell us a bit about who you play?
DG:
Well, mine is a reformed villain who has a nice, charming relationship with Lady Penelope, who’s now played by Rosamund. He’s part of the core of the original series, so my character is basically the same. I think to have altered the character would have been to alter the series, in a way. If it works, don’t mess with it!
KN:
Well, Brains…he’s the brainy one. He’s short-sighted, he’s got a stammer, but he’s a genius. He isn’t as cool or adventurous as the Tracy brothers but without him they couldn’t save the day time and time again. He’s also very handsome! There’s a likeness…I insisted on that! I didn’t just want to be a voice…
AW:
Well, for the Hood, International Rescue has the best technology, the most amazing-est ships, and he wants to get his hands on them. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to have these amazing things? They won’t give them up freely, so he has to work out ways to get these ships, this technology. He probably wants to rule the world as well, but then, who doesn’t? So in his eyes, he’s the good guy.
Is that the twist at the end of the series?
AW:
He is the good guy – everyone else is bad, because they aren’t sharing with him!
Do your eyes still light up like in the original?
AW:
Well, we probably haven’t seen very much more than you (of the finished programme), so I’m not sure. But he’s still basically the Hood, and is still this master of disguise. He could be anywhere, he could be anyone, which makes him tricky to pin down. And if plan A goes wrong, he always got a plan B. He’s pretty much the same as the last incarnation – Patrick Stewart, but with bushier eyebrows.
Do you think that the ‘tech’ in Thunderbirds now reflects what we have in real life. iPhones, etc?
AW:
Yeah, well it’s 2068 or 2065, so it’s even more advanced. The whole idea of the internet didn’t exist back then. Nothing is wound up any more, like in the original!
KN:
And there’s natural disasters as well, so there’s an environmental theme running through the series. There’s a blend of hi-tech and ozone-y stuff, earthquakes, etc. I’m really into it. I can’t wait to see it!
“In the world of Thunderbirds he (Brains) has a very definite, strong place…and everyone plays their part. “
– Kayvan Novak
Brains would have been seen as a geek in the 1960s, which wouldn’t have been ‘cool’. But now it is cool…
KN:
Keep telling yourself that. (laughter).
But is that an important consideration for the presentation of the character now?
KN:
Well, none of the characters refer to him as a nerd or a geek – that’s a negative way of referring to someone. I think he’s the ‘brainy one’. In the world of Thunderbirds he has a very definite, strong place, and I think it all balances out, and everyone plays their part. Brains plays his part, he just doesn’t go out in spaceships and go up to the Moon. He’s more comfortable solving things on computers, but there are times when he’s forced to put on a spacesuit and prove he’s not a coward. It’s a good place for a character to be, to have to overcome their challenges. He also meets an old flame, who he had a crush on from university, and he gets all shy around her, so he’s really sweet and endearing like that. You know, when you’re at school there’s always that kind of geeky one who might get bullied. Brains has got that archetypal speech impediment, he’s short-sighted, he likes being behind computers, so you might think he’s not very cool, but within this world he’s very important. I think that kids will watch it and then will look upon the short-sighted, stammery kid in their class in a different way, hopefully.
What did you make of Rosamund’s interpretation of Lady Penelope?
KN:
Oscar-winning, surely?!
DG:
It’s a modernised version. It’s not the same as the original – you wouldn’t expect it to be, but it’s totally valid, and the relationship is kind of the same. Her trying to keep me on the straight and narrow. She’s lovely to work with – very professional and I think she’ll be very popular in the new, modernised version. Her character doesn’t look the same as the original, but you wouldn’t expect her to.
So you did most of your scenes separately with Rosamund?
DG:
Yes, most of my stuff is with Rosamund, so I didn’t get to meet these very talented guys very often.
AW:
Yes, we were like ships passing in the night.
DG:
…or in the studio.
You said that the new Lady Penelope looks and sounds different, but your character looks very much the same, in terms of your face – do you think that was a very conscious decision?
DG:
Yes, probably. I think it was important to show that he was an updated version – he’s a bit more smooth and sleek-looking now. But it was important that he didn’t differ fundamentally from the previous Parker, because he became such an iconic character.
You mentioned that the storylines sometimes have ecological themes, do they also reference things such as terrorism?
KN:
Are there any terrorist storylines..? Well, I guess there are goodies and baddies…
AW:
I guess because it’s set so far in the future, there are no specifics…
DG:
Yes, I don’t think they really deal at all with the current terrorist situation. It’s basically an adventure story about the good guys getting the bad guys – that’s the basic lesson of every story.
AW:
And of course, International Rescue – a global rescue force.
KN:
Yes, the threats are always man-made…ecological and so forth.
AW:
And if it isn’t, there’s usually only one person behind it.
“It’s important to remember that the only reason this has come back is because the people who have given it impetus and kept the ball rolling love the original.”
– Kayvan Novak
Have you heard the theme music for the series, and does it pay homage to the original?
KN:
I think it’s kind of the same as the original with a drum and bass-thing going on. But they’ve got the same guy doing the ‘5,4,3,5,1 countdown – what was his name?
DG:
Peter Dynely – sadly no longer.
KN:
I think it’s important to remember that the only reason this has come back is because the people who have given it impetus and kept the ball rolling love the original. It’s made by people who want to see it again, rather than someone buying the Thunderbirds trademark and trying to make some quick cash out of it, you know what I mean? The elements that made the original wonderful still remain, with the miniatures, the work that’s gone into it. The hand-made feel remains, but also with the CGI technology. There might be someone going ‘oh no, there are no strings any more!’ But try making that now, and see how people react.
DG:
Yes, 50 years have passed – things have to change. As I said, the basic format of the series has remained the same, and I hope that the original fans and the new ones will join together and cheer!
Is it daunting for actors, coming into such a big show as this?
KN:
No, because it’s an update, a remake. We’re not replacing someone or something from last month or last season. I’m not Ashton Kutcher replacing Charlie Sheen! Although the pay is better!
Have you received additional –
KN:
-Hate mail?!
DG:
You will…
AW:
It’s just something else – we haven’t wiped out the original series, you can still see it on Youtube or buy the DVDs. It’s just a new…order.
KN:
I’m excited to see the new ones, not because I’m in it. It genuinely gives you goosebumps when you watch it. It’s exciting to imagine how a 5 to 15 year old is going to react to it.
Do you think it will cross generations, or is it just for a certain age group?
DG:
With the original series, the children who watched it have grown up and had children of their own. Whenever it’ s been repeated on TV it’s taken on board a new load of fans, and I think this will happen with the new series. The new generation will watch it and pass it on in time to their children, as with the old series. So I’m hoping it will be seamless.
KN:
It’s skipped a generation, really, because you made it, then they did re-runs because it was so original and so iconic. They weren’t making it when I was a kid – I was watching Thunder Cats, so I want my kids to watch Thundercats as well, because that what I love. But the fact that we’ve been able to update Thunderbirds 30 or so years after the excitement that surrounds this is testament to what they achieved back in the sixties. I think this is a worthy update, and it’s going to be very popular, whether you’ve seen the original or not.
You mentioned the cool gadgets and technology in the series – what are your favourites?
AW:
Well, obviously the ships are number one. I guess you’ll be able to buy them as toys – I certainly will for my kids. And…I don’t know, I think there’s obviously a lot that we haven’t seen yet. We might have read about it in the scripts, but we haven’t seen it, because we weren’t acting it to picture. That was done afterwards, so it will be as much a surprise for us as it will be for you.
KN:
The whole world is going to look amazing, because it’s all miniatures – real models. So for kids, if they have just been watching things that have been computer-generated, to see real models it will be like being in a living, breathing toy shop.
DG:
And the Rolls Royce has got automatic transmission…power steering…
KN:
And no tax disc in the window.
DG:
He’s never had a tax disc. He has a numbered account in…
KN:
Ah ok, so it’s Parker, the tax exile now?
“You don’t know what’s real and what’s a model. It’s going to be great and I’m really excited.”
– Kayvan Novak
So you think it’s important for kids to see stuff that’s physical, that’s really ‘there’ on the screen?
KN:
Kids live in the real world, so they see ‘real’ things all the time, but I think it’s cool – neat – to see something that’s actually been man-made. There is a difference. CGI has come on so far, watching things like Toy Story is brilliant, but to see something that’s really there… I don’t know if someone who’s 7 years old and has only seen CGI understands the difference between something that is computer-generated and something that is real, and whether that means anything to them. I don’t know, but I’m hoping that they enjoy it. They might see a computer-generated spaceship and not understand what that means – they just see a spaceship. It’s just a representation on the screen. But I think for the modelmakers and the geeks in New Zealand spending years and years getting these things right, I think that translates in a way that you almost can’t quantify. It will create its own unique look and feel, and then you’ll see something else and think that it doesn’t look as good, but you won’t know why. With this, you don’t know what’s real and what’s a model. It’s going to be great and I’m really excited.
AW:
But they won’t show us any of it! Can we see what you (the journalists) have seen?
A second series has already been confirmed, are you all signed up?
KN:
Yes, so it doesn’t matter what you write!
DG:
Yeah, I’m auditioning for it!
Are you aware of any developments in the second series?
AW:
Well, I guess they’re writing it at the moment.
KN:
Yes, but we’re not allowed to say anything.
DG:
I just have to keep going to be in it!
AW:
It’s nice that the second series has been commissioned without the first series going out.
DG:
It’s wonderful.
“They showed it to the countries and channels that are going to buy it, and presumably it was re-commissioned on the back of their enthusiasm for what they saw.”
– Andres Williams
Do you know why that was the case?
KN:
Because it was so good!
AW:
Well, obviously they showed it to the countries and channels that are going to buy it, and presumably it was re-commissioned on the back of their enthusiasm for what they saw.
DG:
And of course that didn’t happen with the original series. I don’t know what Lew Grade was doing – bless his heart! He didn’t commission any more.
KN:
How many episodes were there?
DG:
I think there were about 31. And two films. Yes, I was in those…I mean my voice was in it!
What do you think about what David, Kayvan and Andres had to say? You can leave a comment on this post, on the Fanderson Forum, or the Facebook Group.