Starz announced today that the highly-anticipated eight-episode first season of FremantleMedia North America produced STARZ Original SeriesAmerican Gods, adapted fromNeil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, will make its network premiere on Sunday, April 30th at 9PM ET/PT. Starz also debuted the U.S. key art. Both announcements come ahead of the World Premiere and extended Q&A of the series at SXSW in March. The series will debut publicly at the festival on March 11 at 11 AM CT at the Vimeo Theater in the Austin Convention Center followed by an extended Q&A moderated by KCRW’sElvis Mitchell.
Showrunners and cast in attendance will includeBryan Fuller,Michael Green,Ricky Whittle,Ian McShane,Emily Browning,Pablo Schreiber,Crispin Glover,Yetide Badaki,Bruce Langley,Orlando Jones,Jonathan TuckerandBetty Gilpin.American Godsposits a different kind of war brewing, one between Old Gods and New. The traditional Old Gods, with mythological roots from around the world, fear irrelevance as their believers die off or are seduced by the money, technology, and celebrity offered by the New Gods. Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is an ex-con who, left adrift by the recent death of his wife, becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to conman Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane). But in truth, Mr. Wednesday is a powerful old deity, on a cross-country mission to build an army and reclaim his lost glory.
Adapted from the award-winning novel,American GodsstarsRicky Whittle(The 100,Austenland) as Shadow Moon,Ian McShane(Deadwood,Ray Donovan) as Mr. Wednesday,Emily Browning(Sucker Punch,Legend) as Laura Moon andPablo Schreiber(Orange is the New Black) as Mad Sweeney. Other cast members includeYetide Badaki(Aquarius,Masters of Sex) as Bilquis;Bruce Langley(Deadly Waters) as Technical Boy;Crispin Glover(Back to the Future) as Mr. World andOrlando Jones(Madiba,Sleepy Hollow) as Mr. Nancy. Additional cast includeGillian Anderson(The X-Files,The Fall) as Media;Kristin Chenoweth(Pushing Daisies,Wicked) as Easter;Jonathan Tucker(Kingdom) as Low Key Lyesmith;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;Demore Barnes(12 Monkeys) as Mr. Ibis,Corbin Bernsen(L.A. Law) as Vulcan andMousa Kraish(Superbad,Fast & Furious) as The Jinn.
American Godsis produced by FremantleMedia North America.Bryan Fuller(Hannibal,Pushing Daisies,Heroes) andMichael Green(Blade Runner 2049,Alien: Covenant,Murder on the Orient Express,Kings,Heroes) are writers and showrunners.David Slade(Hannibal,The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) is directing the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA’sCraig CegielskiandStefanie Berkare executive producers along withFuller,Green,Slade,Adam KaneandNeil Gaiman. Senior Vice Presidents of Original ProgrammingMarta FernandezandKen Segnaare the Starz executives in charge ofAmerican Gods.
Starzretains all network pay TV and SVOD rights, as well as certain DVD distribution rights in the US and Canada, to the project. FremantleMedia is distributing the series in all other media worldwide. Written byNeil Gaimanin 2001,American Godshas been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula andBram Stoker Awardsfor Best Novel. Take a look at the first poster forAmerican Gods, as we start the countdown towards the April 30 premiere.
