The young William Shakespeare drama “Will” has received a series order from TNT, the network announced Wednesday ahead of Turner’s 2016 upfront presentation.
Newcomer Laurie Davidson plays The Bard as he is just arriving onto the punk-rock theater scene in 16th century London. Olivia DeJonge, Colm Meaney, Mattias Inwood, Jamie Campbell Bower and Ewen Bremner also star.
Executive produced by Craig Pearce, Shekhar Kapur, Alison Owen, Debra Hayward, Vince Gerardis, Howard Braunstein and Louise Rosager, the series joins the network’s other upcoming series “Animal Kingdom,” “Good Behavior,” “The Alienist” and “Tales from the Crypt.”
“‘Will’ has an energy and style that is unlike anything else on television today,” Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT, said in a statement. “Shakespeare was a 16th century rock star, and ‘Will’ perfectly captures in contemporary terms what that must have felt like for the young writer and his fans.
“We are delighted to be working with such an extraordinary team of executive producers and cast in putting a fresh, bold spin on the story of Shakespeare,” Aubrey continued.
TNT also announced a pilot order for the political drama “Civil,” from director Allen Coulter and writer/executive producer Scott Smith.
The drama takes place in the wake of a hotly contested Presidential election, as America finds itself plunging uncontrollably into a modern day Civil War. The series weaves together the personal stories of citizens from all walks of life, whose actions — amplified in an age of instant media — add fuel to the conflict and affect the fate of the entire country.