Neil Gaiman ranks among the most celebrated storytellers of our time. A gifted writer with a penchant for crafting odd tales with mythological underpinnings, he’s written novels, short story collections and even comics that speak to the most curious, most human parts of ourselves. It’s difficult to pick a favorite amongst his many brilliant works, but most regard his groundbreaking American Gods to be his greatest achievement as a writer.
Two of Gaiman’s stories, Coraline and Stardust, have already received book-to-screen translations, and the forthcoming adaptation of American Gods (premiering on Starz in April) will see the author’s seminal work fitted for television. Produced by Brian Fuller, the series will follow protagonist Shadow Moon as he navigates a world populated by beings he doesn’t yet understand. Fresh out of prison and suddenly without a wife, Shadow meets the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday, a man who turns out to be much more than he seems. An unlikely duo, Shadow and his new “friend” travel across the country in search of the American Gods.
Earlier this week, Fuller revealed four new character posters for the show that depict a handful of the most prominent players. As the one-sheets suggest, the characters spotlighted in American Gods are an odd bunch. You’ve got Shadow, Mr. Wednesday (secretly Odin), Bilquis (an Old God of love), and Shadow’s deceased wife, Laura. I’m not going to give too much away, but the interactions and relationships between these characters are some of the best moments in the book, and hopefully the show will capture that magic in a satisfying way.
American Gods stars Ricky Whittle as Shadow, Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday, Emily Browning as Laura Moon, Yetide Badaki as Bilquis, Peter Stormare as Czernobog and Dane Cook as Robbie. It premieres at 9 PM on Sunday, April 30th.