Neil Gaiman's American Gods Coming To Starz

[EzekelRAGE]

Ian McShane to Star in 'American Gods' for Starz

Ian McShane Getty Images
He'll take on the central role of Mr. Wednesday in the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel.
Starz has found its Mr. Wednesday.

Deadwood, American Horror Story and upcoming Game of Thrones star Ian McShane has booked the key role in Starz's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel American Gods, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The drama centers on a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of biblical and mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon (The 100's Ricky Whittle), is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation for a battle with the new deities.

McShane's Mr. Wednesday is described as powerful and charismatic — a Casanova of sorts — who is a con man and an incarnation of All-Father Odin, who's traveling America recruiting his fellow forgotten deities to wage an epic battle
against the new American gods.

For McShane, the role comes as he's poised to have a major part in HBO's upcoming sixth season of Game of Thrones. The casting brings him back to Starz, where he earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in miniseries Pillars of the Earth. His credits also include Pirates of the Caribbean, Ray Donovan, The West Wing and Lovejoy. He's repped by ICM Partners, Gallant Management, Independent Talent Group and Sloane Offer.

Production on the series will begin in April. Produced by FremantleMedia North America, Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (The River) will pen the script and serve as showrunners. David Slade will direct the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA's Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk will executive produce alongside Fuller, Green, Slade and Gaiman. Starz senior vp original programming Marta Fernandez and Ken Segna will oversee for the network.


"When you write a beloved character (beloved with, or despite, or because of all his faults) like Mr. Wednesday, you get to watch the Internet trying to cast the role. I've seen a hundred names suggested, but few make me grin like Ian McShane does. I've already been lucky enough to have him in one film (he was bright blue in it, animated, and probably Polish). Now I count myself even luckier: he's made the journey from Lovejoy to American Gods. Yesterday was Super Tuesday. Today is Wonderful Wednesday,” Gaimain said in a statement.

Ian McShane to Star in 'American Gods' for Starz

 

[Jello Biafra]

McShane is perfect for this role.

 

[Nature Boy Ric Flair]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Jello Biafra]

Figured I'd post some news about this show to try and get folks interested in it:

Gillian Anderson has been cast as Media and here is a first look at her in the show:


Orlando Jones is playing Mr. Nancy/Anansi

Pablo Schreiber (Pornstache from ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK) has replaced Sean Harris (PROMETHEUS) as Mad Sweeny

Cloris Leachman is playing the eldest Zorya Sister

Emily Browning is playing Shadow's wife, Laura

Yetide Badaki is playing the love goddess Bilquis

Crispin Glover (BACK TO THE FUTURE) is playing Mr. World and Johnathan Tucker (KINGDOM) is playing Low Key Lyesmith/Loki

Bruce Langley is playing Technical Boy

 

[Neuromancer]

Finally!!! Thank you, Book was trash. People act like Im retarded when i say it wasnt that good. Somebody said it was better than tolkiens work in terms of fantasy and i was about to knock dude out.

Glorify racists brehs.

 

[Neuromancer]

Hopefully we get the Anansi boys follow up.

 

[Jello Biafra]

Shadow vs Mad Sweeney with Mr. Wednesday looking on

Mr. Wednesday

Shadow vs Mad Sweeney

 

[David_TheMan]

The book was ass, like most of Gaiman's work great concept poor execution because he can't actually tell a good story. Same issue with the other neal, stephenson.
Shadow is the most annoying and boring antagonist I've ever read in a book as long as this. He literally doesn't do anything in the story to lead the action, his wife does more.
The depiction of the gods is cool as hell, the execution is shyt, the road story, different gods, general overall plot is easy to see from the beginning and boring and played out.
The finale is ass.

 

[Jello Biafra]

The book was ass, like most of Gaiman's work great concept poor execution because he can't actually tell a good story. Same issue with the other neal, stephenson.
Shadow is the most annoying and boring antagonist I've ever read in a book as long as this. He literally doesn't do anything in the story to lead the action, his wife does more.
The depiction of the gods is cool as hell, the execution is shyt, the road story, different gods, general overall plot is easy to see from the beginning and boring and played out.
The finale is ass.

But the TV show is being done by Bryan Fuller and I have yet to be disappointed by a Fuller helmed show.

 

[NoGutsNoGLory]

Glorify racists brehs.

bu bu but my white man is better than your white man.

 

[Neuromancer]

bu bu but my white man is better than your white man.

Bu but. I actually read fantasy written by black people.

 

[David_TheMan]

w

Bu but. I actually read fantasy written by black people.

what does race of the author have to do with the quality of the story, real question?

 

[David_TheMan]

But the TV show is being done by Bryan Fuller and I have yet to be disappointed by a Fuller helmed show.

He isnt really a showrunner/writer I follow.
I just looked him up though and the only show of his that I liked was Pushing Daisies

 

[Neuromancer]

w

what does race of the author have to do with the quality of the story, real question?

I find I care more when characters I read about look like me. It makes me care more tbh. Authors of color also tend to write pieces on issues that value. I can't enjoy something where I am cast as some savage diseased enemy. Just my preference.

 

[David_TheMan]

I find I care more when characters I read about look like me. It makes me care more tbh. Authors of color also tend to write pieces on issues that value. I can't enjoy something where I am cast as some savage diseased enemy. Just my preference.

I can understand that, but in the fantasy I read I don't see to much of that, ie blacks being cast as savages. Its more often that blacks just aren't mentioned at all, lke in the fantasy I read like Warhammer fantasy and sci-fi Warhammer 4k.

That said the black fantasy I've reaad has been terrible, like the Acacia series, which is black written but simply poorly told story with weak characters. IMHO