How ‘The Comeback’ Led to Lisa Kudrow’s Gender-Flipped Starring Role on ‘Time Bandits’

As a seasoned actress with a rich and diverse career spanning over three decades, Lisa Kudrow has left an indelible mark on both the small and big screens. From her iconic role as Phoebe Buffay in “Friends” to her critically acclaimed performances in shows like “The Comeback” and “Web Therapy,” Kudrow’s ability to bring depth and nuance to her characters is truly unparalleled.

Approximately two years ago, Taika Waititi reached out to Lisa Kudrow on Instagram with an extraordinary offer. He proposed that she travel to New Zealand for the very first time and spend six months filming a fantastical television series – a genre that was unfamiliar to her.

Kudrow, a native Angeleno who isn’t fond of lengthy travels, found it hard to refuse the enticing offer. The intriguing project at hand was none other than “Time Bandits,” a fresh take on Terry Gilliam’s 1981 fantasy masterpiece by Waititi, Clement, and Morris. In the original movie, Gilliam collaborated with his Monty Python comrades John Cleese and Michael Palin, alongside Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, and Ian Holm.

In the recently debuted Apple TV+ show that started streaming on Wednesday, Kudrow plays the role of Penelope, a makeshift chief among a band of misfits. When an unexpected portal appears in an 11-year-old boy’s (Kal-El Tuck) bedroom, Kevin – who is passionate about history – unintentionally joins this group as they embark on a time-traveling adventure together.

Penelope believes she should take charge, yet is reluctant to express this, fearing others might feel inferior. (Kudrow shares with The Hollywood Reporter)

Waititi portrays the role of the Divine Being, whose cosmic map for universe travel was taken by the bandits; Clement assumes the character of the Divine Being’s prime antagonist, Malevolent Force, who sends his evil demons to recover the stolen map, granting him ultimate power. The traveling time bandits are portrayed by Charlyne Yi (who spoke openly about the production challenges), Tadhg Murphy, Rune Temte, and Roger Jean Nsengiyumva.

According to Kudrow, Penelope’s reason for action stems from feeling disregarded by a Higher Power. Like her companions in crime, they all hail from this divine realm but have felt overlooked. To seek recognition and satisfaction, they purloined the map to journey through time.

Kudrow consistently takes on roles where she portrays endearing, comically oblivious characters. She finds amusement in her own clueless moments and believes that everyone can relate to being unaware of their actions and how they influence those around them.

The makers of “Time Bandits” were avid fans of “Friends,” particularly Lisa Kudrow. In fact, Waititi once donned a “Smelly Cat” T-shirt in her presence. However, it was her performance in HBO’s witty show “The Comeback” that truly captured their attention. In this series, she portrayed a fading sitcom star who desperately sought to resurrect her career by producing a reality TV spin-off about herself. The producers believed Lisa would excel in the lead role due to her ability to embody the struggle of reaching for goals beyond one’s limits – a trait they saw in Penelope’s character. As Morris shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “The core of the story revolves around Lisa portraying someone who is determined to achieve more than what she’s capable of, which is also a fitting description of Penelopé.”

In his opinion, “The Comeback” is amongst the best American shows ever produced, and Kudrow’s performance truly shines in it. Waititi, who became acquainted with Kudrow through a mutual friend, Jennifer Aniston, further emphasizes her comedic brilliance by stating that this role solidifies her status as a comic legend.

How ‘The Comeback’ Led to Lisa Kudrow’s Gender-Flipped Starring Role on ‘Time Bandits’

Originally, the bandit leader’s name was Randall, inspired by the character portrayed by David Rappaport in the movie. However, when Kudrow joined the production team, they modified the role to better suit her.

Randall was initially described as “the leader who’s afraid of everything. And I said, ‘Afraid of his own shadow. That’s very funny,’” Kudrow says. “‘But I think for me, I’m going to play [Penelope] very courageous when it doesn’t make sense to be courageous, when there’s no call for being courageous. It’s more bravado and arrogant, based on no talent for anything. That, to me, is funny.’”

When directing a gender-swapped role, Waititi expressed his intention to prevent the common trope of female leads being overly rational, mistake-free, and sensible, carrying the team. He aimed to deviate from this pattern by having Kudrow portray what is typically written for male characters instead.

As a huge fan, I’d describe it as an enchanting blend of Kudrow’s comedic prowess – her knack for improvisation and her unpredictable line readings – with a hidden depth of emotion that catches you off guard. I was fortunate enough to direct her in a scene near the end of the show where things go awry for Penelope. The heart-wrenching confusion she brought to that scene left me in tears while watching the monitor.

Kudrow, who oversaw and produced the 11 seasons of the American “Who Do You Think You Are?” show at NBC between its initial run and its brief return in 2022, enjoyed delving deeper into the historical periods explored by the series. For instance, she became intrigued by the Chinese pirate chief Zheng Yi Sao featured in the premiere episode.

“She expresses her delight in learning about histories beyond Europe, which is largely what she’s been taught as an American with a European focus. She appreciates the inclusion of diverse cultures and their histories in the content.”

Although Kudrow admits she wasn’t initially drawn to history as a child, her perspective changed with the personalized approach of shows like “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Time Bandits.” She shares, “I didn’t find history engaging in school. But these programs humanize historical figures and illustrate how their actions affected their lives and lineages. In ‘Time Bandits,’ for instance, a figure from history might ponder, ‘Should I hide my boats here?’ Then, the show offers validation by revealing that this decision ultimately saved them from danger.”

How ‘The Comeback’ Led to Lisa Kudrow’s Gender-Flipped Starring Role on ‘Time Bandits’

Kudrow, like many well-known actors with the ability to select projects, makes her choices based on her eagerness to work with talented collaborators. Following her successful partnerships with Waititi, Clement, and Morris in “Flight of the Conchords” and “What We Do in the Shadows,” Kudrow joined the cast of “Dead to Me’s” next Netflix dark comedy series, “No Good Deed,” directed by Liz Feldman. She was thrilled to act alongside Romano and shared no further details except expressing it was a pleasure to work with him.

Kudrow continues to receive numerous invitations to spearhead sitcom projects with multiple cameras. Though she hasn’t made a definitive decision, she doesn’t dismiss the possibility of re-entering the realm of network television in the future. “Comedy hinges on unexpected twists, and viewers must embrace this theatrical setup,” she explains. “It might be challenging to persuade them to accept something so different from what they’re accustomed to.” She adds, “I crave a purely funny show, but it seems we’ve grown fond of more authentic, day-to-day experiences. Nonetheless, I long for such a project.”

Is it possible that she could join Aniston and Cox in taking on more serious acting roles, as seen in their past works? She responds with a chuckle, “I enjoy doing things that amuse and are enjoyable to be a part of. Dramas can definitely be entertaining, but committing to a one-hour drama series is quite an undertaking. I’m not sure yet, but who knows? Why not?” she shrugs.

Kudrow keeps in touch with her former colleagues about possibly continuing their hit movie “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” but nothing is certain yet.

Kudrow, who continues to be delighted that fans are still discovering and re-watching “The Comeback,” expresses her eagerness to collaborate with Michael Patrick King, the executive producer of “Sex and the City” and its new series “And Just Like That.” They frequently discuss potential ideas for Valerie Cherish’s next adventure during their meetings. “We can’t help but think about it every time we’re together,” she shares.

Kudrow shares that she’s recently started re-watching “Friends” episodes, which she had avoided for years following the show’s end. This change came mainly as a way for her to reminisce about her late costar, Matthew Perry, who passed away last October. She explains, “I couldn’t bring myself to watch it before due to self-consciousness, but focusing on Matthew makes it easier for me. It’s all about appreciating his humor and the memories we created together.”

The TV show “Friends” made its debut on September 22, 1994, attracting an audience of 21.5 million viewers right from the start. This successful beginning catapulted the six friends portrayed in the show, who lived in New York City, to international fame. The series continued for ten seasons and produced a total of 236 episodes. May of this year marked the 20-year anniversary since the last episode was broadcast. Watching old episodes again, Kudrow finds herself laughing out loud at how hilarious the show used to be.

“I’m deeply impressed by Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. Matthew LeBlanc and David Schwimmer are uniquely funny, bringing a new cadence and comedic timing to the table. Kudrow admits with a chuckle, ‘I even find myself laughing at my own lines.’ In private, she enjoys rewatching Friends to celebrate anniversaries, but feels self-conscious about it, fearing others may judge her for it.”

Despite her initial hesitation to be seen enjoying “Friends” on her own terms, Kudrow has rarely backed down from talking about her experience on the show. Unlike other actors from lengthy series who may struggle with balancing their pride in their iconic roles and desire for new projects, Kudrow openly admires Phoebe Buffay and finds no issue with discussing the character, as she believes “it doesn’t benefit anything” and it’s simply “not my nature.”

Kudrow expresses her gratitude for the opportunities she received after playing Phoebe on “Friends,” acknowledging that while some perceived her as a “spacey idiot,” she was also able to take on diverse roles in independent films. She explains that even though not many people saw these projects, they led her to other successful ventures like “The Comeback,” “Web Therapy,” and producing “Who Do You Think You Are?” Therefore, she is thankful for the experience of being a part of “Friends” and the doors it opened for her career.

You can now stream “Time Bandits” on Apple TV+, with the addition of two fresh episodes each week, every Wednesday, up until August 21st.

2024-07-25 18:55

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