A 20th Anniversary Retrospective on the Thunderbirds Movie

Cast, crew, and fans unite in this epic retrospective discussing the 2004 Thunderbirds movie, directed by Jonathan Frakes. Featuring brand new interviews with Dominic Colenso, Sophia Myles, Ron Cook, John Beard, Dominic Lavery, and John Lee sharing their memories of working on the big-screen adaptation of Thunderbirds. Learn what it was really like to film on Tracy Island, how the redesigned Thunderbirds craft came to be, and what it took to blow up an oil rig or wreck a monorail.

Also join a dedicated group of Thunderbirds experts from around the world to share their memories of the movie and dive into the aspects of the movie that they love and loathe including the script, music, characters, vehicles, and more. Take an exclusive walk through rare archive material including concept art, behind the scenes footage, and unseen drafts of the script.

Andrew and Jack will also be taking you on guided tours of some original screen-used props from the movie which survive 20 years later, and visiting some of the glamorous filming locations. This is an action-packed retrospective filled with facts, opinions, insights, and a few unexpected surprises along the way.

CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Opening Titles and Introduction
00:02:33 Interview with Dominic Colenso (Virgil Tracy)
00:38:52 Fan and Artist Panel with Connor Flanagan
00:48:27 Interview with John Beard (Production Designer)
01:11:04 Script Development Panel with Ben Page
01:54:56 Interview with Dominic Lavery (Concept Artist)
02:31:31 Interview with John Lee (Senior Model Maker)
02:54:34 Characters Panel with Olivia M. Grant and Willow Lambden-Smith
03:32:37 Original Props Collection Walkthrough
03:50:53 Interview with Sophia Myles (Lady Penelope)
04:21:46 Music Panel with James Crethar
04:51:40 Interview with Ron Cook (Parker)
05:14:59 Vehicles Panel with Chris Thompson
05:56:12 Filming Locations Travel Log with Jack Knoll, Chris Thompson, Ben Page, and Connor Flanagan
06:06:39 Conclusion and End Credits

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The 2004 Thunderbirds movie, directed by Jonathan Frakes, reimagined Gerry & Sylvia Anderson’s beloved 1960s Supermarionation series in a live-action format aimed at younger audiences. The film follows the Tracy family, led by billionaire ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy (Bill Paxton), who operate the secret International Rescue organization from their island base. When villainous mastermind The Hood (Ben Kingsley) captures Jeff and his older sons, youngest son Alan (Brady Corbet), alongside friends Tin-Tin (Vanessa Hudgens) and Fermat (Soren Fulton), steps up to thwart his evil plans. Released on July 23, 2004, the film was visually striking yet faced criticism for sidelining the original show’s iconic vehicles and focusing on a kid-centered plot. Despite mixed reviews and a lukewarm box office, the film introduced Thunderbirds to a new generation and remains a topic of interest among fans, especially for its bold reinterpretation and ensemble cast.

DISCLAIMER: This presentation is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Universal Pictures, Working Title, or StudioCanal. The views and opinions expressed by interviewees in this presentation do not necessarily represent those of its producers, Universal Pictures, Working Title, or StudioCanal. All interviewees and contributors have participated in this presentation voluntarily and given their time freely. Copyrighted material is used solely for criticism, commentary, educational, and informational purposes under fair use.

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