Fans of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods jumped up and down a bit yesterday when Starz announced it was adapting the fantasy novel for the small screen.
Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said, “STARZ is committed to bring American Gods to its legions of fans. 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. The search for Shadow begins today!”
American Gods is being written by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, with Neil Gaiman serving as executive producer for the series. There is no word on the start day for the series, as the search for the lead role of Shadow Moon is currently underway.
The central premise of the novel is that gods and mythological creatures exist because people believe in them (a form of thoughtform). Immigrants to the United States brought with them spirits and gods. However, the power of these mythological beings has diminished as people’s beliefs wane. New gods have arisen, reflecting America’s obsessions with media, celebrity, technology, and drugs, among others.
American Gods is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman. The novel is a blend of Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn Shadow. Several of the themes touched upon in the book were previously glimpsed in The Sandman graphic novels.
Starz has landed a couple of high profile properties over the last couple of years, and with the success of Outlander, and the pending release of Ash vs Evil Dead, it seems like the network is heading in the right direction.
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2 Comments
I really hope these guys get to shoot at the real places mentioned in this story.
Setting up a shot on the actual House on the Rock Carousel would be so awesome!
I’m hugely excited. Have loved the book for years so hoping the tv treatment can do justice to this rambling complex beast of a story.
But the big question is who to cast? Mr Wednesday will be the key. Needs to be someone special but alongside a relative unknown playing Shadow.