Starz' "American Gods" (Season 2)

[X12Celtics3]

I'm disappointed that it left HBO and I have absolutely no idea of Starz is a good place for it, but I love Bryan Fuller so I'm still in.

[Walts Ghost]

Interesting...Still really game for this show. Hope it comes togethers.

[theusher]

Bryan Fuller Offers Update on Neil Gaiman’s ‘American Gods’

Nearly a year after Starz announced plans to adapt Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed 2001 fantasy novel “American Gods,” co-showrunner Bryan Fuller reveals the series could premiere by late 2016.

“The first two scripts have been written and we have been working with illustrators designing the world,” the “Hannibal” creator told Den of Geek, “so we’ve got these fantastic illustrations of Jack’s Crocodile Bar, the Bone Orchard and Zorya’s rooftop with all the telescopes looking up at the bear constellation.

“There are also some new things that are going to be unique to the series and weren’t in the book,” he continued. “We are going to do a visual presentation to Starz, who are very happy with the two scripts that they received, and then we go from there.”

Previously in development for HBO, “American Gods” is built on the premise that deities and figures of myth and folklore exist only because people believe in them. It follows an ex-convict named Shadow who, upon early release from prison after his wife is killed in a car crash, is hired to be the bodyguard of a mysterious con man named Wednesday. However, it’s soon revealed that Wednesday is 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 — manifestations of modern life and technology, like Internet, media and credit cards.

Fuller revealed that Bilquis, queen of Sheba, will be a major character in the series, alongside the likes of Shadow Moon, Laura Moon, Wednesday, Mad Sweeney and The Technical Boy, and reiterated his dedication to an ethnically diverse cast.

“One of the things I’m most excited about for ‘American Gods’ is the diversity in the cast because there’s such a wide range of ethnic gods in the world,” he said. “Right now, we’re imagining two white roles and everybody else is non-white, so my goal, Michael’s [Green, co-showrunner] goal, certainly Neil’s goal has been to have a very ethnically diverse cast. That’s important to all of us.”

However, even after Starz gives “American Gods” a greenlight, it may be a while before we learn who’s been cast in those roles, as Fuller said Gaiman is pushing to keep the details under wraps until a big reveal can be made: “That’s his plan. He’s saying ‘I don’t want to make any casting announcements, I want to announce the cast in full when they walk out on stage at a Comic-Con.'”

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.co...american-gods/

[theusher]

‘American Gods’ Neil Gaiman Drama Adaptation Gets Starz Series Order

American Gods‘ long journey to the screen has been successfully completed. Starz has given a straight-to-series order to a drama adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Hugo and Nebula Award-winning contemporary fantasy novel from FremantleMedia North America. The series was developed and written by Hannibal and Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller and Kings creator Michael Green who will executive produce and showrun. Gaiman also will executive produce the series, which is launching a casting search for the lead role of Shadow Moon.

In the 2001 novel, which has been translated into over 30 languages, a war is 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. The book centers on Shadow Moon, 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 to battle the new deities.

“With our partners at FremantleMedia and with Bryan, Michael and Neil guiding the project, we hope to create a series that honors the book and does right by the fans, who have been casting it in their minds for years,” Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said. “The search for Shadow begins today!”

Starz has successfully brought to the screen another very popular book property, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, after an extensive casting process followed closely by the novels’ fans.

“I am thrilled, ‎scared, delighted, nervous and a ball of glorious anticipation,” Gaiman said. “The team that is going to bring the world of American Gods to the screen has been assembled like the master criminals in a caper movie: I’m relieved and confident that my baby is in good hands. Now we finally move to the exciting business that fans have been doing for the last dozen years: casting our Shadow, our Wednesday, our Laura…”

American Gods was originally set up at HBO in 2011 through Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone. The project didn’t go forward, and two years later, when Playtone’s Stefanie Berk left to join FMNA as SVP scripted, she brought the book with her.

Ever since, “American Gods has been the passion project for us,” said Craig Cegielski, Co-CEO, FremantleMedia North America, who has overseen the company’s scripted operations. He and Berk also will executive produce the series.

Last summer, American Gods was set up at Starz. As the pay cable network normally does, the project was put in development with an eye towards a straight-to-series order. Fuller recently was quoted as saying that two scripts have been completed along with illustrations demonstrating his and Green’s vision for the show.

“Almost 15 years ago, Neil Gaiman filled a toy box with gods and magic and we are thrilled to finally crack it open and play,” Fuller and Green said. “We’re grateful to have Starz above us and FremantleMedia at our backs as we appease the gods, American or otherwise.”

Starz will retain all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. FremantleMedia will distribute the series worldwide.

Fuller, repped by WME and Ken Ziffren, has no deal to run his NBC series Hannibal beyond the current third season. While a fourth season renewal is considered highly unlikely, I hear something could be worked out in terms of a future Fuller involvement. Green, repped by WME, Patti Felker and Erwin Stoff, has been busy in features with his scripts for Murder On The Orient Express at Fox and sequels to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and Prometheus.

Fans can tweet @AmericanGodsSTZ and @STARZ_Channel using the hashtag #CastingShadow to share who they think should play the role of Shadow Moon.

[theusher]

Starz’s ‘American Gods’ Casts Its Shadow Moon With ‘The 100’s Ricky Whittle

After a lengthy casting process, British actor Ricky Whittle (The 100) has been cast as Shadow Moon in Starz’s upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel American Gods.

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht and American Gods executive producers Bryan Fuller and Michael Green had repeatedly stressed the importance and challenge of finding the right actor to play the lead character in the adaptation because of Shadow’s unique heritage and look in the books (I hear the prototype was younger Dwayne Johnson). Whittle was among the actors who tested for the role last September. Starz held onto him while exploring other options, there were more testings and retestings until Whittle was cast.

With Shadow Moon set, the series will begin shooting in April. A number of scripts have already been written, and Albrecht said at TCA earlier this month that the network brass are happy with what they have read so far.

http://deadline.com/2016/01/starz-am...le-1201692057/

Can someone change the title of this thread, since it's no longer an HBO show?

[Will.]

Have not heard of him before. Still hopeful!

[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

[Talzin78]

Man I just finished this novel today, then watched the trailer for the show. WOW!

[theusher]

Premiere date is April 30

[mrrant_33]

American Gods | Official Trailer | STARZ - YouTube

[ST2012]

Really looking forward to this. I was about 16 when I really got hooked on reading, and American Gods was one of the novels that hooked me as a teenager.

[spectre08]

oh damn that looks good.