Starz' "American Gods" (Season 2)

[WyldeMan45]

As HBO prepares to unveil its epic-sized series adaptation of George RR Martin's Game of Thrones this Sunday, the payweb has begun talks to acquire the Neil Gaiman novel American Gods to be developed into another fantasy series. The project was brought to HBO by Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and it was brought to them by Robert Richardson. The plan is for Richardson and Gaiman to write the pilot together.

Richardson is the renowned cinematographer who just completed Hugo Cabret and whose recent credits include Shutter Island, Inglourious Basterds and Kill Bill. He is a regular collaborator with directors that include Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone and has won Oscars for The Aviator and JFK. It is his first significant scripting effort. He'll do it in collaboration with Gaiman, a fanboy god for works like The Sandman, whose script work includes Beowulf. His novels Stardust and Coraline have been turned into films, and Neil Jordan is directing an adaption of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.

American Gods, the 2002 book that won both the Stoker and Hugo Award among other prizes, lays out a battle between two sets of gods. One consists of the traditional gods and mythological creatures who got their power because people throughout history believed in them. They are losing steam as people's beliefs wane and are in danger of being supplanted by a new set of gods who reflect America's preoccupation with technological advancements and obsessions with media, celebrity, technology and drugs. The protagonist is an ex-con who becomes the traveling partner of a conman who turns out to be one of the older gods trying to recruit troops to battle the upstart deities.

Playtone just completed its run of the HBO series Big Love, and generated the miniseries The Pacific, John Adams, Band of Brothers and From The Earth To The Moon for the network.

[detective392]

Sounds good and hope they can get everything together and make this series.

[biglou114]

I'd definitely would be up for a 10-13 part series.

[Walts Ghost]

Very cool! I hope this comes together because it's a great book and could make a great series if done right.

[SpaceDog]

There is some seriously odd stuff going on in this book and it's sequel. I'd love to see it adapted - but only FAITHFULLY. I'm still bitter about STARDUST.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

There is some seriously odd stuff going on in this book and it's sequel. I'd love to see it adapted - but only FAITHFULLY. I'm still bitter about STARDUST.

If it does well, maybe we'll see a really faithful adaption of Neverwhere as well....

[detective392]

Tom Hanks Set To Produce Neil Gaiman's American Gods TV Series For HBO

Tom Hanks' Playtone Productions(along with partner Gary Goetzman) will be in charge of bringing American Gods to our TV screens in an open ended, six season adaptation for HBO.


From THR..

The series-in-development, revolving around the question “are you a god if no one believes in you?” is executive produced by Goetzman and Hanks, with Bob Richardson, and Gaiman on board as executive producer and writer.
Each of the six seasons will be of 10-12, hour-long episodes with a budget of around $35-40 million per season, targeted to debut on the cable powerhouse in 2013 at the earliest.


The story ties in to Gaiman's Sandman mythology in several ways, and includes appearances from some of the same characters. According to Goetzman, we could be in for a first for TV..

“There are some crazy things in there. We’ll probably be doing more effects in there than it’s been done on a television series."


Well, if they handle it even half as well as Game Of Thrones I will be very happy indeed. For those of you unfamiliar with the novel, it's great, go read it. Need a bit more? ok..

Released from prison, Shadow finds his world turned upside down. His wife has been killed; a mysterious stranger offers him a job. But Mr. Wednesday, who knows more about Shadow than is possible, warns that a storm is coming — a battle for the very soul of America . . . and they are in its direct path.

http://comicbookmovie.com/fansites/r.../news/?a=39238

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by detective392

Tom Hanks Set To Produce Neil Gaiman's American Gods TV Series For HBO

http://comicbookmovie.com/fansites/r.../news/?a=39238

That is great news! This is getting better and better.

[detective392]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

That is great news! This is getting better and better.

Can't believe they want 6 seasons though as if it get's all 6 it will end in 2018 assuming it airs in 2013 and HBO sticks to their one season a year route.

Really looking forward to this though and can't wait for it to start.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by detective392

Can't believe they want 6 seasons though as if it get's all 6 it will end in 2018 assuming it airs in 2013 and HBO sticks to their one season a year route.

Really looking forward to this though and can't wait for it to start.

Hey, if they're willing to commit to six seasons this early, I'm all for it. It'll be nice not having to worry about it getting cancelled.

[SpaceDog]

I'll be most interested if they keep Gaiman involved as much as possible. If they intend to make multiple seasons work, his involvement in making that happen is paramount.

[theusher]

‘American Gods’: Ian McShane To Play Mr. Wednesday In Starz Series

“Yesterday was Super Tuesday. Today is Wonderful Wednesday,” Neil Gaiman said today in response to the casting of Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday in Starz’s series adaptation of his acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel American Gods.

Deadwood and Lovejoy alum McShane will star opposite Ricky Whittle in the straight-to-series drama, set to begin filming in April, with Bryan Fuller and Michael Green as writers/showrunners. McShane previously voiced Mr. Bobinsky in Coraline, the animated feature adaptation of Gaiman’s novel.

“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,” Gaiman added. “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.”

In American Gods, a war is brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of 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. The show centers on Mr. Wednesday (McShane), a crafty and endlessly charismatic con man, full of perverse wisdom, curious magic, and grand plans. He hires ex-con Shadow Moon (Whittle) to be his bodyguard as he journeys across America, using his charms to recruit others like him as he prepares for the ultimate battle for power.

“Actor. Icon. And now god,” said Fuller and Green. “It is a goddamn delight to be collaborating with the incomparable Ian McShane — again and for the first time — on a story about faith and belief, with the utmost faith and belief in Mr. McShane as our Mr. Wednesday. A wonderful Wednesday indeed.”

This marks McShane’s return to Starz where he starred in The Pillars of the Earth, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His series credits also include Ray Donovan and American Horror Story. He will next be seen in Game of Thrones and Dr. Thorne as well as features John Wick: Chapter 2, The Hollow Point and Bolden. McShane is repped by ICM Partners, Gallant Management, Independent Talent Group and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

http://deadline.com/2016/03/american...rz-1201713313/

[theusher]

CAMERAS ROLL AS STARZ AND FMNA BRING “AMERICAN GODS” TO LIFE

Starz and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) began production this week on the 10-episode first season of “American Gods,” the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel. Shooting has commenced in Toronto, Canada and will continue in additional locations across America.

Joining the previously announced cast are Cloris Leachman (“Malcom in The Middle,” “Raising Hope”) as Zorya Vechernyaya, Peter Stormare (“Fargo,” “Prison Break”) as Czernobog, Chris Obi (“Snow White and the Huntsman,” “The Counselor”) as Anubis and Mousa Kraish (“Superbad,” “Fast & Furious”) as The Jinn.

The cast includes Ricky Whittle (“The 100,” “Austenland”) as Shadow Moon, Ian McShane (“Deadwood,” “Ray Donovan”) as Mr. Wednesday, Emily Browning (“Sucker Punch,” “Legend”) as Laura Moon, Sean Harris (“The Borgias,” “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”) as Mad Sweeney, Yetide Badaki (“Aquarius,” “Masters of Sex”) as Bilquis, Bruce Langley (“Deadly Waters”) as Technical Boy, Crispin Glover (“Back to the Future”) as Mr World and Jonathan Tucker (“Kingdom”) as Low Key Lyesmith.

Leachman plays Zorya Vechernyaya, the eldest of three sisters who watch over the constellations, guarding against horrors forgotten by modern man. Once accustomed to royal status, the sisters have learned to survive on far less in a country that has no memory of them.

Stormare plays Czernobog. A Slavic god of darkness and evil, Czernobog is reluctant to join the coming war, wary of Wednesday’s motivations.

Obi plays Anubis, the commanding ancient Egyptian god of the dead, gently guiding mortals through the judgment of their souls.

Kraish will play The Jinn, a mythical creature of the fire who understands a person’s deepest desires better than they do. He fears for his safety with the coming war, and considers fleeing America.

http://www.fremantlemedia.com/camera...-gods-to-life/

[COLD_COBRA_]

Just finished the book, I'm looking forward to this. I hope the Sam Blackcrow character is in this. Loving the Mr. Wednesday casting, that's perfect.

[theusher]

Role Recast. Pablo Schreiber will play Mad Sweeney, replacing Sean Harris.

MEDIA ALERT (literally): @GillianA has officially joined #AmericanGods as Media!

[whotony]

Someone needs to update the thread title.

[mrrant_33]

Mr. Wednesday.

[Show spoiler]

Mr. Wednesday watches as Shadow Moon and Mad Sweeney get to know each other.

[Show spoiler]

[djgeneral]

Originally Posted by whotony

Someone needs to update the thread title.

Just did

[mrrant_33]

American Gods Teaser Trailer - YouTube

Not bad. Not bad at all.

[Hucksta G]

Looks like a pretty faithful adaptation