Barry Keoghan is set to star in what he calls a dream assignment as he will take on the role of famous gunslinger Billy the Kid in a new feature aiming to tell the famous figure’s story.
Fresh from being nominated for an Oscar for his role in the hit film The Banshees of Inisherin, Irish actor Barry Keoghan now has his sights firmly set on starring in a new feature film which aims to retell the story of Billy the Kid.
Keoghan’s American Animals director Bart Layton is aboard to direct the feature, which Element Pictures and RAW with Film4 will produce.
Barry Keoghan – one of the most exciting actors currently in the industry
Despite being only 30 years old, Barry Keoghan has already established himself as one of the most exciting actors in the industry.
Since he started acting, he has become a household name thanks to his starring roles in many independent and blockbuster films.
In 2020, he was listed as number 27 on The Irish Times’ list of Ireland’s greatest film actors, and he recently earned his first Oscar nomination for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin.
Billy the Kid – a world-famous gunslinger
Born in New York as Henry McCarty, Billy the Kid was orphaned at 15 when his mother died, and his stepfather abandoned him.
He soon turned to a life of crime to survive, with his first arrest for robbery occurring a year later and by the time he was 18 years old, he was already wanted for murder
From there, his notoriety escalated until he met his untimely death at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett at just 21 years old.
Keoghan, who lost his mother when he was just 12 years old and grew up in the foster system, says that he can relate to the pressures that McCarty must have felt, which pushed him towards a life of crime and the many desperate choices he made afterwards.
Speaking about the opportunity of portraying Billy the Kid on the big screen, Keoghan said, “We’ve seen many versions of Billy the Kid on screen before.
“My interest was in trying to tell a version that breaks from the facade of that cool, calm, and collected gunslinger Billy the Kid that we’re all used to seeing. I wanted to humanize him in a way”.
Keoghan promises an outstanding performance – a role to be remembered for
Dublin man Keoghan says he intends for this role to be the one that he’s remembered for. He said, “Bart’s like a brother and Ed has always been there for me.
“To have the two of them stand by me on this, knowing it won’t be a small film, knowing we’re going to have to work hard to get it set up, that means a great deal.
“This is a project I brought from the ground up, so to have a director like Bart and a producer like Ed bring their styles to bear on it is really exciting.”
Fremantle-backed Element Pictures producer Ed Guiney, who previously worked with Keoghan on The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Calm with Horses, explained, “This isn’t just a passion project for Barry.
“This approach is something new, and it’s a version of the tale we hope the world will want to see”.
