Never ones to let a popular franchise or creative team go untapped these days, the Beeb’s film division is backing a movie from the Horrible Histories bods. Their target for the big screen? One Bill.I.am Shakespeare, Esq. Okay, William.
Richard Bracewell is set to direct from Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond's script, which delves into the origin story of Shakespeare. Or at least, their interpretation of it…
Bill, as it will be called, tells the story of how hopeless lute player Bill Shakespeare leaves his family and home to follow his dream. It’s a tale of murderous kings, spies, lost loves, and a plot to blow up Queen Elizabeth. Can one man prove the quill is mightier than the sword? “It’s a comedy adventure for all the family,” the writers say in a statement. “We're playing with history, just as Shakespeare did, for the entertainment of the audience. And we like to think he'd be OK with it. Apart from the bit where he's dressed as a tomato."
Histories regulars Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick plus Rickard and Willbond are set to crop up in various roles, Python-style. Filming should gear up later this year in the UK. If you have tears of laughter, prepare to shed them… whenever the film arrives in cinemas. At any rate, it should be less historically offensive than Anonymous, right?