TNT Drama Pilot 'WILL' to Chronicle Early Years of William Shakespeare

Ever wonder what William Shakespeare was like in his 20's? Well according to Deadline, TNT wants to present the early years of the Bard in a new drama pilot to be titled WILL.

HELL ON WHEELS' Colm Meaney and Mattias Inwood (MTV's The Shannara Chronicles) will star in the project to be helmed by Shekhar Kapur. It will follow "the wild story of young William Shakespeare's (Laurie Davidson) arrival onto the punk rock theater scene that was 16th century London - the seductive, violent world where his raw talent faced rioting audiences, religious fanatics and raucous side-shows." The project is being described as "the hot, contemporary, dangerous version of Shakespeare's life, played to a modern soundtrack, exposing all his recklessness, lustful temptations and brilliance."

Meaney will portray James Burbage, a carpenter with a creative desire to build a a 3,000-seat state-of-the-art theatre in London. The entrepreneur must face the authorities, rival theatres, and "a fickle and at times riotous public to keep himself and his company of talented MISFITS afloat."

Inwood will take on the role of Richard Burbage, James' son. "Although innately talented, he is a little too much in love with himself and prone to overact. Through personal tragedy and Will's influence, Richard eventually realizes that there is more to being an actor than the crowd's adoration and he and Will go on to form the greatest actor-writer partnership the world has ever seen."