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Ready for battle: New season of 'Billy the Kid' takes viewers inside the Lincoln County War
Michael Hirst and Donald De Line couldn鈥檛 wait to travel back to the late 1800s and the Wild West.
As the screenwriter and producer, respectively, Hirst and De Line, were looking forward to continuing the story in the TV series, 鈥淏illy the Kid.鈥�
The first part of season two began airing on Oct. 15, on MGM+. The four episodes will air on Sundays through Nov. 5.
Then the second part of the season will air in 2024.
鈥淔or this season, Michael had all the episodes written, and we were on track to get the season done,鈥� De Line says. 鈥淏y the time we hit the fourth episode, the SAG-AFTRA strike was in place, and we had to stop production. When the strike is over, we鈥檒l be back in Canada shooting the next four episodes.鈥�
鈥淏illy the Kid鈥� is an epic romantic adventure inspired by the life of America鈥檚 most infamous outlaw.
In season two, as Billy and his allies square off against his oldest friend Jesse Evans and the corrupt powers of the Santa Fe Ring.
When shots are fired, the conflict erupts into the bloody Lincoln County War.
Amidst the fighting, Billy will struggle to hang onto his soul 鈥� and to the love of his life.
The series stars Tom Blyth as William H. Bonney and Daniel Webber as Jesse Evans.
Ready for battle: New season of 'Billy the Kid' takes viewers inside the Lincoln County War
Hirst says getting into season two was very exciting because season one prepared viewers for the Lincoln County War.
Because of history, most viewers know the end result, which is why he spent most of the first season telling Bonney鈥檚 story.
鈥淚 wanted viewers to get to know Billy,鈥� Hirst says. 鈥淲ho he was and the tragedies that he lived through. He was on this journey that took him to Lincoln County. And he鈥檚 still only 19 years old. He鈥檚 walking into this fight which spreads into mayhem and insanity. Along with murders, he has to take a leadership role.鈥�
De Line and Hirst filmed the production in Calgary, Canada.
Though they recall trying to film in New Mexico in 2021.
鈥淭here are variables with productions that come into play,鈥� De Line says. 鈥淲e looked at New Mexico and there was no room for the production. We also had to deal with filming during a pandemic.鈥�
Hirst says writing this project has been a labor of love, and the production navigated the strikes as smoothly as they could.
鈥淔acing obstacles is what life is about,鈥� Hirst says. 鈥淔ilmmaking is the same. There are so many moving parts and any of these parts can fall out and you have to be prepared. We will get back to Calgary once the strikes are over and we will come back with renewed vigor.鈥�
