As Deadline described in the aforementioned press release announcing Blyth's casting, "Billy the Kid" will be "an epic romantic adventure based on the life of Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney — from his humble Irish roots and his early days as a cowboy and gunslinger in the American frontier, to his pivotal role in the Lincoln County War and beyond." The show will follow in the footsteps of all the past movies and television shows featuring Billy the Kid, the latest of which is the Vincent D'Onofrio-directed film "The Kid," in which Dane DeHaan plays the title character. Past actors who have also portrayed Billy the Kid include Val Kilmer, Paul Newman, and Emilio Estevez.
According to Biography, legend says that Billy the Kid killed around 21 people throughout his crime spree, but in reality the number is likely a lot less. Billy the Kid fought in the Lincoln County War and killed Sheriff Brady amidst the fighting, which led to his arrest and death sentence in 1880. Clever and adaptable, the young man was able to escape prison, but his life as a fugitive ended in 1881 when he was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett. While Garrett was Billy the Kid's killer, he is also the reason the outlaw's legend has grown to be what it is today, almost a century and a half later. Shortly after Billy the Kid's death, Garrett wrote a biography about him called "The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid" (via Goodreads). Depending on how far along the upcoming Epix series gets into the historical figure's life, Sheriff Garrett will likely make an appearance.
