Tottenham fan and Hollywood star Jude Law is set to portray iconic Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in a new docuseries exploring the life and legacy of the Reds legend

Tottenham fan and Hollywood star Jude Law is set to portray an iconic former Liverpool manager in a new docuseries.

The Black Rabbit star will portray legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in a new drama series written by Adolescence creator Jack Thorne. Liverpool announced in 2024 that it was partnering with production company Box To Box Films on the project, which will chart Shankly’s impact on the club and his role in transforming its fortunes.

The series will follow Shankly’s rise at Anfield, where he led Liverpool to promotion from the Second Division before winning three First Division titles, two FA Cups, four Charity Shields and the UEFA Cup.

Set against the backdrop of Liverpool’s cultural boom during the 1960s, the drama will explore how the club evolved from a struggling side into one of the biggest sporting institutions in the world.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner, who has held the position since 2010, told Deadline that he believes the series could become the football equivalent of The Crown. "It’s a story about family and relationships through the lens of a football club,” he said.

Shankly, affectionately known as “Shanks”, took charge of Liverpool in December 1959 and helped lay the foundations for the club’s future success.

He also played a key role in establishing 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' as Liverpool’s anthem. He stepped down in 1974, shortly after leading the Reds to FA Cup glory, and died in 1981 at the age of 68.

Werner added: "Bill Shankly understood that it wasn’t just about finding the best talent on the team.

"It was about forging a connection with a fan base, and the reason that Liverpool is so special to me, besides the fact that you could say it’s got a billion fans worldwide, is that the relationship between the club and its supporters is really unique.

"If we can articulate that in a mini-series that starts with Bill Shankly and continues through its journey, we can touch on things like the Beatles."

Shankly’s granddaughter Karen Gill, author of The Real Bill Shankly, is also involved in the project, which will be filmed in Liverpool and at Anfield.

Werner said a second series of episodes could explore the Hillsborough disaster if the drama is successful.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters and left more than 750 people injured during the club’s FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield in 1989.

Thorne, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, has written the first two episodes, while Werner and his team have begun discussions with broadcasters and streaming platforms.