EPIX recently released a trailer for their upcoming show titled Billy the Kid. The series is inspired by one of the most well known outlaws in American history. An article from Collider compares the upcoming project to the classic HBO series Deadwood. Both programs feature a sepia-toned color palette, along with a dark look at the Old West. The crew for Billy the Kid includes someone with previous experience in historical fiction. Michael Hirst, who created The Tudors and Vikings, is writing the new show. The former was inspired by the relationships between Henry VIII and some of his wives. The latter was based on the conflicts of some of the real life warriors. Actor Tom Blyth (Robin Hood, Benediction) is starring in the titular role in Billy the Kid. There will be eight episodes in the first season, and they are expected to be one hour each. Many recent shows have relatively short seasons, and the one based on the Western criminal is no exception.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
In the video, viewers can see a cowboy riding his horse to a saloon, while his face is out of view. An unseen character, possibly Billy’s father, explains how you should never point at a man unless you intend to kill him. When the rider enters the bar, the voice-over ends. A cover of a song by legendary country singer Johnny Cash, called God’s Gonna Cut Him Down, starts to play in the background. The trailer ends with Blyth turning to the camera, with a sharp focus on his eyes.
A synopsis for the upcoming show discusses how it is “An epic romantic adventure based on the life of famous American outlaw Billy the Kid (Blyth) also known as William H. Bonney - from his humble Irish roots, to his early days as a cowboy and gunslinger in the American frontier, to his pivotal role in the Lincoln County War and beyond. Webber will play Jesse Evans, another famous outlaw and leader of the Seven Rivers Gang. When they meet, Jesse has already embraced a life of crime: robbing stores and cattle rustling. Billy is attracted to his wild and reckless character and becomes Billy’s doppelgänger of sorts - his shadow self, forever inviting him over to the dark side of life.”
Billy the Kid is now the seventh greenlit project for the recently created MGM International Television Productions Label, as well as the second co-production with EPIX after the sci-fi horror series From. The western drama is going to be internationally distributed by MGM. EPIX has been creating multiple new shows over the last couple years. Some of the channel’s biggest hits are Godfather of Harlem, which stars and is executive produced by critically acclaimed actor Forest Whitaker, along with Pennyworth, an espionage show about the life of Batman’s famous butler in the early years of his service to the Wayne family. The latter has led to a comic book spinoff published by DC.
Billy the Kid is currently expected to premiere on EPIX at some point in 2022. An exact release date has yet to be announced at the time of this writing.
