I personally, together with the teams here at Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop, look forward to designing and creating an inspirational world that will engage the imagination of a whole new generation as it did for us nearly half a century ago. 'It is thrilling therefore to think we have the opportunity to work with ITV on this new series inspired by this most wonderful of British shows. Richard Taylor, co-owner of Pukeko Pictures and Weta Workshop, said: 'Thunderbirds was a hugely influential television series in my childhood. Having watched it originally in black and white, it was only years later that I discovered the full and rich world that Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Derek Meddings, Mike Trimm and their team created.

Plans for a revival of the much-loved series were first revealed two years ago when Anderson said the show would be updated using 'all the mod cons'. Thunderbird is described as an enormous bird (according to many Northwestern tribes, large enough to carry a killer whale in its talons as an eagle carries a fish) who is responsible for the sound of thunder. Head writer on the new series will be Rob Hoegee, whose credits include Ben 10, Generator Rex, Teen Titans and Slugterra, names with which Thurnderbirds fans who watched the show first time round may not be immediately familiar. The Thunderbird is a widespread figure in Native American mythology, particularly among Midwestern, Plains, and Northwest Coast tribes. Thunderbirds: Lady Penelope is driven by her chauffeur Parker in a 1966 episode.

Thunder birds