Jude Law set to play Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in A24 series written by Jack Thorne
Deadline reported exclusively that Jude Law is set to play Bill Shankly in an A24 drama about Liverpool FC, with Jack Thorne writing. The Daily Mirror followed, crediting Deadline.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Jude Law is set to play Bill Shankly, the former Liverpool FC manager, in a TV series from A24 written by Jack Thorne, according to an exclusive in Deadline. DeadlineN “The Black Rabbit star is set to star as legendary Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly in a series from Adolescence writer Jack Thorne and A24.” Read at Deadline ↗ Daily MirrorL “Jude Law is set to play legendary former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in a new TV series.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1Deadline said the club revealed in 2024 that it was working on the project with A24 and Box To Box Films, the producer of Drive To Survive. DeadlineN “The soccer club revealed in 2024 that it was working with the Beef and Margo’s Got Money Troubles producer A24 and Drive To Survive producer Box To Box Films on the project.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The series is to chart Shankly's rise, which took Liverpool from the old Second Division to three First Division titles, two FA Cups and four Charity Shields, plus the UEFA Cup, set against Liverpool's 1960s music and culture. The Mirror also cites a 15-year reign. DeadlineN “The series will chart Shankly’s rise, helping the club achieve promotion from the old Second Division before winning three First Division Championships, two FA Cups, four Charity Shields and the UEFA Cup.” Read at Deadline ↗ Daily MirrorL “in his 15-year reign on Merseyside” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2Liverpool chairman Tom Werner told Deadline he believes the series could become like The Crown, calling it "a story about family and relationships through the lens of a football club". DeadlineN “He told Deadline that he believes the series could become like The Crown.” Read at Deadline ↗ Daily MirrorL “Liverpool chairman Tom Werner believes that the series could become like The Crown” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1Werner said that if the show succeeds, a second batch of episodes would address the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 people died. DeadlineN “Werner added that, in success, the second batch of episodes would touch on the Hillsborough disaster” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Thorne, a Liverpool fan, has written the first two episodes, and Werner's team has begun talks with broadcasters and streamers, Deadline reported. DeadlineN “Thorne, himself a Liverpool fan, has written the first two episodes, and Werner and his team have begun talks with broadcasters and streamers.” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2Filming is to take place in Liverpool and at Anfield, and Shankly's granddaughter Karen Gill, author of The Real Bill Shankly, is involved. DeadlineN “which will be filmed in Liverpool and at Anfield” Read at Deadline ↗ Daily MirrorL “Shankly's granddaughter, Karen Gill, is involved alongside production company Box To Box Films.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1In comments quoted by the Mirror, Thorne said the show aims to focus on the city as well as the club, "whilst being honest about the struggles of the 1960s and 1970s", and Gill called it "a wonderful way to share the story of my grandad's time at LFC". Daily MirrorL “whilst being honest about the struggles of the 1960s and 1970s in one of our industrial heartlands”“I think it's a wonderful way to share the story of my grandad's time at LFC.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets note that Law, a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, is cast as the manager of a Premier League rival's great figure. The Mirror describes Law as a 53-year-old BAFTA winner and two-time Oscar nominee. DeadlineN “Jude Law might be a Tottenham Hotspur fan but he’s potentially heading to Anfield for his next role.” Read at Deadline ↗ Daily MirrorL “Law, who is a BAFTA winner and two-time Oscar nominee, supports one of Liverpool's Premier League rivals, Tottenham .” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Fan-oriented football story that follows Deadline's scoop and credits it, with emphasis on Liverpool and Law's Tottenham allegiance.
- Emphasis
- Quotes from Werner, Gill and Thorne, Law's credentials, and the series' Liverpool setting.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the Hillsborough plan and the talks with broadcasters and streamers.
- Charged language
- “Hollywood star”“Liverpool legend”
- For example
-
“Werner told Deadline , who broke the news of Law's casting” — Daily Mirror
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Trade-press exclusive: casting scoop and project details, driven by Tom Werner's interview and the series' ambitions.
- Emphasis
- Production partners, the scope of the story, Werner's Crown comparison, possible Hillsborough episodes and talks with streamers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Thorne or Gill on the project's aims.
- Charged language
- “legendary”
- For example
-
“EXCLUSIVE: Jude Law might be a Tottenham Hotspur fan but he’s potentially heading to Anfield for his next role.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Jude Law is set to play Bill Shankly in an A24 series written by Jack Thorne.
- Tom Werner compared the project's potential to The Crown.
- Filming will take place in Liverpool and at Anfield, with Shankly's granddaughter Karen Gill involved.
- Law supports Tottenham Hotspur.
Where accounts differ
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Number of UEFA Cups won under Shankly
- Left
- The Mirror says "one UEFA Cup".
- Centre
- Deadline refers to winning "the UEFA Cup".
Jude Law person
Cast as Shankly; the coverage quotes no comment from him, and notes he is a Tottenham fan.
“supports one of Liverpool's Premier League rivals, Tottenham” — Daily Mirror
Jack Thorne person
Thorne says he is excited and honoured, and wants to celebrate the club and the city while being honest about the era's struggles.
“I'm excited to be telling this incredible story and it's an honour to be working alongside A24 and Liverpool Football Club.” — Daily Mirror
A24 organisation
Named as producer of the series alongside Box To Box Films; the coverage quotes no A24 statement.
“working with the Beef and Margo’s Got Money Troubles producer A24” — Deadline
Bill Shankly person
The subject of the series: manager from December 1959 to 1974, credited with making "You'll Never Walk Alone" the anthem; died in 1981.
“Shankly, or Shanks as he was commonly known, became Liverpool manager in December 1959.” — Deadline
Left1 article
-
Hollywood star Jude Law to play Liverpool legend Bill Shankly in new TV series
Celebratory Football-fan rewrite of Deadline's scoop, adding cast and family quotes and a Tottenham angle.
Centre1 article
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Jude Law Set To Play Legendary Liverpool Manager Bill Shankly In A24 Series From Jack Thorne
Neutral Entertainment-trade exclusive on the casting, with business and production detail.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 19:17 First DeadlineN Jude Law Set To Play Legendary Liverpool Manager Bill Shankly In A24 Series From Jack Thorne
- 16 Oct 22:37 +3h 20m Daily MirrorL Hollywood star Jude Law to play Liverpool legend Bill Shankly in new TV series
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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