Film studio A24 is teaming up with Drive to Survive indie, Box to Box for a new Jack Thorne-penned scripted TV series on legendary Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly.
Liverpool Football Club will support A24 on the series, alongside Karen Gill, Shankly’s granddaughter, “to ensure historical accuracy in retelling the story of how the Scot laid the foundations for the success LFC continues to enjoy in the modern day.”
Set against the backdrop of Liverpool’s 1960s era with the boom of music and culture, the multi-episode drama will be filmed in Liverpool and Anfield.
An icon in football management, Shankly was Reds boss from 1959 to 1974, taking the club from the old Second Division to three league titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup.
“I think it’s a wonderful way to share the story of my grandad’s time at LFC,” said Gill. “Anybody who knows anything about the club knows what it meant to Bill Shankly.
“This is going to be a must-watch for all Liverpool fans and it’s a privilege to have the chance now to showcase his story to the wider world. I’m looking forward to seeing how this project unfolds and being a part of it.”
Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Enola Holmes, Help) is attached to write the series.
Thorne added: “I’m excited to be telling this incredible story and it’s an honour to be working alongside A24 and Liverpool Football Club.
“Our goal is to focus not just on the club, but on the city itself – because, and this is one thing Shankly made sure, the club belongs to the city and the city belongs to the club.
“We have a chance with this show to celebrate both a magnificent football club and a magnificent city, whilst being honest about the struggles of the 1960s and 1970s in one of our industrial heartlands.
“We hope to honour the fans, the city, and the legacy of Liverpool FC in bringing its story to life.”
Jon Creamer
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