Stakes are high: Tom Blyth steps into role of 'Billy the Kid' once again

Tom Blyth knows that the stakes are higher — and he’s here for it.

The English actor is once again jumping into the role of William H. Bonney in the MGM+ series, “Billy the Kid.”

The second half of season two begins to stream on Sunday, June 2.

Stakes are high: Tom Blyth steps into role of 'Billy the Kid' once again

“The stakes are definitely rising,” Blyth says. “I think with every episode, it just has higher and higher stakes and high energy. Billy is becoming someone who is not scared to take the fight to his enemies, which is exciting. In season one, we got to see him as someone who was being led astray and learning from other people. In season two, he’s finding his feet and becoming a natural leader. It’s exciting to play and it’s exciting to watch.”

In season two of “Billy the Kid,” Billy gets caught in the middle of the Lincoln County War, a murderous conflict driven by money, greed and corruption.

After enjoying a monopoly, Murphy’s Store is no longer the only player in town when Englishman John Tunstall moves to Lincoln and sets off a commercial rivalry.

Law-and-order is no match for cowboy gangs and a secret society.

Wild chases and shootouts abound.

There are innumerable ambushes and killings.

No-one is safe.

After a pivotal assassination, things get very ugly, leaving Billy the Kid with an uncertain fate.

Blyth says playing Billy the Kid for two seasons has been a learning experience.

“He’s full of multitudes,” Blyth says. “He’s someone who has all of this duality. I love the moments when you think he’s the good guy and he turns bad and does the wrong thing. The moments when he chooses revenge instead of the high road. It’s exciting to watch a character that is really human making mistakes and bad decisions.”

The series is created by Michael Hirst, who returns for the second season alongside executive producers Donald De Line, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.

Hirst says getting into season two was very exciting because season one prepared viewers for the Lincoln County War.

Because of history, most viewers know the end result, which is why he spent most of the first season telling Bonney’s story.

“I wanted viewers to get to know Billy,” Hirst says. “Who he was and the tragedies that he lived through. He was on this journey that took him to Lincoln County. And he’s still only 19 years old. He’s walking into this fight, which spreads into mayhem and insanity. Along with murders, he has to take a leadership role.”

De Line and Hirst filmed the production in Calgary, Canada.

Though they recall trying to film in New Mexico in 2021.

“There are variables with productions that come into play,” De Line says. “We looked at New Mexico and there was no room for the production. We also had to deal with filming during a pandemic.”

Production on the second season was halted due to the Writers Guild of America and the SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.

Blyth and crew flew back to Canada to film the four episodes in the winter.

“We filmed the first part in the summer last year and then we had to take a break,” he says. “The next four episodes are ready for the fans. The minute that I got back to Calgary, Canada, and put the boots and hat on, I got on the horse and his voice came back. Billy’s mannerism came back. It was great to get back to him. It felt like putting on another skin that I knew was familiar.”

During filming, Blyth learned that the role continues to require physical skills.

“I’ve learned to ride proficiently,” he explains. “I’ve learned how to handle weapons, safely and proficiently. I’ve learned a little bit of Spanish, not a ton, but a little bit and I’m trying to learn more. I’ve also learned that nothing is black and white or good or bad. It’s a little bit of both and we have to make decisions based on that information.”

Production was all on location, and Blyth says he was always in the boondocks in the countryside.

“We’re in the Rocky Mountains and there’s this Western town that has been there for years,” he says. “I think it was built for ‘Lonesome Dove’ or something. We get to use this space and bring New Mexico to life. I’ll admit, it was about 30 degrees below freezing when we got back to filming the four episodes. I’d be on the horse, galloping, and the snow would get kicked up in my face and nostrils. It just feels so visceral and so real. It adds an element of danger to the season.”