Billy the Kid (TV series)

Last updated
Billy the Kid
2022 Billy the Kid title card.png
Title card for the first season
GenreWestern
Created by Michael Hirst
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
ProducerNick Iannelli
Production location Alberta
Cinematography
Running time45–54 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseApril 24, 2022 (2022-04-24) 
present (present)

Billy the Kid is an American Western drama television series created by Michael Hirst set in the 19th-century American Old West. It stars Tom Blyth as outlaw and gunfighter Billy the Kid. The series premiered on Epix on April 24, 2022. In January 2023, the series was renewed for a second season split into two parts. Part one premiered on the rebranded MGM+ on October 15, 2023 with part two set to premiere in 2024. [1]

Contents

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Tunstall-McSween Faction & Lincoln County Regulators

Murphy-Riley Faction & Jesse Evans Gang

Other

Guest

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 8April 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)June 5, 2022 (2022-06-05)
2 84October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)November 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)
42024 (2024)TBA

Season 1 (2022)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Immigrants" Otto Bathurst Michael Hirst April 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)
12-year-old Billy McCarty and his immigrant Irish family have to leave New York and travel west to seek new opportunities. But the journey proves fatal for some.
22"The Rattler"Otto BathurstMichael HirstApril 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)
Kathleen and her sons travel on to Santa Fe. Life is hard, but she meets and marries a man who might change everything for the better - only to find that he makes it a lot worse.
33"Antrim"Rachel LeitermanMichael HirstApril 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)
Antrim, Kathleen and the two boys relocate to Silver City, trying to start a new life. But all their dreams are shattered - and Billy loses everything.
44"Interlude"Rachel LeitermanMichael HirstMay 1, 2022 (2022-05-01)
Billy falls in with a character called Alias. He kills a man in self-defense and ends up on the run, and then in the arms of a young woman who also happens to be the girlfriend of Jesse Evans.
55"The Little Bit of Paradise" Michael Nankin Michael HirstMay 8, 2022 (2022-05-08)
Billy ends up in Chihuahua, Mexico, with a new Mexican friend called Segura; together they enjoy several risky escapades -- but in the end, Billy risks losing his life.
66"Fate"Michael NankinMichael HirstMay 15, 2022 (2022-05-15)
Billy bumps into Pat Garrett, who is riding with Jesse and the 7 Rivers Gang. Billy joins them - but law makers are already closing in. They plan to flee to Lincoln County - but not before Billy fulfils one last promise.
77"At the House" David Frazee Michael HirstMay 22, 2022 (2022-05-22)
Billy joins Jesse, Pat Garrett and another outlaw called Frank Baker, as well as the rest of the 7 Rivers Gang in their new camp just outside the town of Lincoln. The gang is now working for Lincoln's most powerful boss, Major Murphy.
88"The Rampage"David FrazeeMichael HirstJune 5, 2022 (2022-06-05)
We are on the eve of the Lincoln County War. Jesse and the gang are encouraged by Murphy to ramp up their attacks on those farmers, mostly Mexican, who have signed up with Tunstall.

Season 2 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
Part 1
91"The Road to Hell"Rachel Leiterman Michael Hirst October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)
102"Sickness"Rachel LeitermanMichael HirstOctober 22, 2023 (2023-10-22)
113"The Agony" David Frazee Michael HirstOctober 29, 2023 (2023-10-29)
124"The Day of the Dead"David FrazeeMichael HirstNovember 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)
Part 2
135TBATBATBATBA
146TBATBATBATBA
157TBATBATBATBA
168TBATBATBATBA

Production

Development

On May 4, 2021, it was announced that Epix greenlit the series for an eight-episode first season, which will be written and executive produced by Michael Hirst. It was also announced that Otto Bathurst will direct the first two episodes. Production companies involved with the series include Epix, MGM International TV Productions and Nordic Entertainment Group. [2] [3] On January 10, 2023, the series was renewed for a second season. [4]

Casting

On May 13, 2021, it was announced that Tom Blyth had been cast in the series' lead role. [5] On August 27, 2021, it was announced that Daniel Webber had been cast as Jesse Evans. [6]

Filming

Principal photography for the series took place in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada. [7]

Release

The series held their world premiere in March 2022 at the Series Mania festival in Lille, France. [8] The series premiered in the United States on Epix on April 24, 2022.

In Australia, it was distributed by Stan.

In Canada and Latin America, it is available to stream on Paramount+.

Reception

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 43% with an average rating of 5.90 out of 10. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln County War</span> 1878–1881 conflict in the Old West of the US

The Lincoln County War was an Old West conflict between rival factions which began in 1878 in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, the predecessor of the state of New Mexico, and continued until 1881. The feud became famous because of the participation of William H. Bonney. Other notable participants included Sheriff William J. Brady, cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and businessmen Alexander McSween, James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Chávez y Chávez</span> Outlaw from the U.S. state of New Mexico.

José Coby Frey Chávez y Chávez (1851–1924) was a Mexican-American outlaw from the New Mexican Territory, which is now the state of New Mexico, in the United States. He was said to be the son of a Spanish father and Apache mother. Chávez became an outlaw at a relatively young age when he joined the Lincoln County Regulators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Bowdre</span> American cowboy and outlaw (1848–1880)

Charles Bowdre was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was an associate of Billy the Kid and member of his gang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom O'Folliard</span> Outlaw and figure in the Lincoln County War (1858–1880)

Tom O'Folliard was the best friend of outlaw William Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid. Both were members of the Regulators during the Lincoln County War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doc Scurlock</span> American Old West figure (1849–1929)

Josiah Gordon "Doc" Scurlock was an American Old West figure, cowboy, and gunfighter. A founding member of the Regulators during the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, Scurlock rode alongside such men as Billy the Kid.

Michael Hirst is an English screenwriter and producer. He is best known for his films Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), as well as the Emmy Award-winning television series The Tudors (2007-2010) and Vikings (2013-2020). Hirst owns Green Pavilion Entertainment, a production company he launched in December 2017.

The Lincoln County Regulators, or just the Regulators, were an American Old West deputized posse that fought in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, during the late 19th century. They are well known for including Billy the Kid as a member.

The Battle of Lincoln, New Mexico, was a five-day-long firefight between the Murphy-Dolan Faction and the Regulators that took place between July 15–19, 1878, in Lincoln, New Mexico. It was the largest armed battle of the Lincoln County War in the New Mexico Territory. The firefight was interrupted and suppressed by United States Cavalry led by Lt. Col. Nathan Dudley from Fort Stanton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ab Saunders</span> American cowboy and gunfighter (1851–1883)

Ab Saunders was an American cowboy, and at times gunman, best known for his association with Billy the Kid, Charlie Bowdre, Frank McNab, Doc Scurlock, and Saunders's cousins Frank and George Coe, when he was a member of the Lincoln County Regulators, a deputized posse, during the 1878 Lincoln County War in the New Mexico Territory

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References

  1. "War Is Brewing in 'Billy The Kid' Season 2 Part One Trailer". Collider . August 24, 2023.
  2. Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (May 4, 2021). "'Billy the Kid' Drama Series From 'The Tudors' Alum Michael Hirst Greenlit by Epix". Variety . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  3. Andreeva, Nellie (May 4, 2021). "'Billy The Kid' Series From Michael Hirst Ordered By Epix". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  4. White, Peter (January 10, 2023). "Billy The Kid Renewed For Season 2 At MGM+". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  5. Petski, Denise (May 13, 2021). "'Billy The Kid': Tom Blyth To Star In Title Role Of Epix Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  6. Petski, Denise (August 27, 2021). "'Billy The Kid': Daniel Webber To Play Jesse Evans In Epix Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  7. "BEHIND THE LOOK: Billy the Kid". Picture Shop. April 24, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  8. Goodfellow, Melanie (February 17, 2022). "'Billy The Kid', HBO's 'The Baby' to compete at Series Mania". Screen International . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  9. "Billy the Kid". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved November 30, 2022.