In 2021, Anderson Entertainment began releasing Thunderbirds audio stories. Featuring a full cast, which includes Jon Culshaw and Justin T. Lee, the series adapts a variety of original 1960s material, including novels published by John Theydon and comics printed in TV Century 21. Samuel Clemens acts as director, with Andrew Clements as producer.
Released alongside the audiobook releases are reprints of the original novels, edited slightly for suitability for a contemporary audience. Big Finish Productions act as the primary digital distributor, with Anderson Entertainment distributing CD copies and occasionally digital copies, and well as publishing the reprints.
The first instalment was released in May 2021, an adaptation of the first novel under the title Terror from the Stars. From September 2022, the series would pivot to adapting stories from Thunderbirds comic stories in TV Century 21.
History[]
In October 2020, Radio Times reported that Big Finish were working on a new "top secret" adaption alongside Anderson Entertainment, following their collaborations on a Space: 1999 remake as well as new series First Action Bureau.[1]
On the evening of April 10 2021, the Big Finish X account began counting down from 5 using GIFs from the Thunderbirds opening titles[2], culminating with a midnight announcement of the new series and Terror from the Stars.[3]
On May 17th, 2022, Genevieve Gaunt posted a video online of herself and Jon Culshaw recording dialogue from the Lady Penelope story The Vanishing Ray. This would materialise as Thunderbirds Versus the Hood, an adaptation of two classic comic stories, and the series' first pure audio drama.
Releases[]
- Terror from the Stars, adapted by Andrew Clements from Thunderbirds. Released May 2021.
- Peril in Peru, adapted by Chris Dale from Calling Thunderbirds. Released November 2021.
- Operation Asteroids, adapted by Ross Arrowsmith from Operation Asteroids. Released April 2022.
- Thunderbirds Versus the Hood, adapted by Ben Page and Chris Dale from The Vanishing Ray and Brains is Dead respectively. Released September 2022.
- Fire and Fury, adapted by Iain Meadows and Nicholas Briggs from The Space Mirror and Blazing Danger respectively. Released November 2022.
- Danger and Deception, adapted by Chris Thompson, Genevieve Gaunt, Andrew Clements, and Ben Page from The Revolution, Mr. Steelman, The Trapped Spy, and The Big Freeze respectively. Released November 2023.
Additionally, Chris Dale confirmed he was working on a Ring of Fire adaption during his behind the scenes interview included as part of Peril in Peru. However, the story has yet to materialise as the series continues to focus on adapting comic stories instead.
Cast[]
In additional to the primary characters, the core cast also voice guest characters on a per episode basis. Wayne Forester acts as narrator, while the cast perform the 'spoken' lines from the novels.
- Jon Culshaw - Jeff Tracy, Aloysius Parker
- Justin T. Lee - Scott Tracy, John Tracy, Kyrano, the Hood
- Wayne Forester - Narrator, Virgil Tracy, Brains
- Joe Jameson - Gordon Tracy, Alan Tracy
- Genevieve Gaunt - Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, Grandma Tracy
- Anna Leong Brophy - Tin-Tin Kyrano
Crew[]
- Director: Samuel Clemens
- Producer: Andrew Clements
- Executive producers: Jamie Anderson, Nicholas Briggs
- Music: Joe Kraemer
- Sound design: Toby Hrycek-Robinson
- Sound engineering: Benji Clifford
- Cover art: Marcus Stamps
Footnotes[]
- ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/big-finish-gerry-anderson-new/
- ↑ The reception to the countdown was somewhat muted - Big Finish had posted the countdown over a number of days, which only resulted in a sale on their Anderson-related properties.
- ↑ https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/thunderbirds-is-back