We were technically over the moon about this when they first announced it. And then, we got even more excited when Ricky Whittle was cast. And then Ian McShane. And Emily Browning. Basically, we thought we couldn’t be more ready for “American Gods.”
Turns out we were wrong.
Starz and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) announced today that Sean Harris (The Borgias) has been cast as Mad Sweeney, Yetide Badaki (Masters of Sex) as Bilquis and Bruce Langley (Deadly Waters) as Technical Boy in the upcoming adaptation of American Gods, Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, which has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous awards and accolades, including a Hugo Award for Best Novel.
All three of them will be series regulars.
Mad Sweeney is described as a down on his luck leprechaun, Bilquis as an ancient goddess of love who craves the worship she inspired in eras long gone and Technical Boy as a New God who is purveyor of all things technology. The whole premise of the novel is that gods and mythological creatures exist because people believe in them. So, of course, with the advent of technology, people’s belief has diminished, and so has the powers of these gods. In it’s place, new, dangerous gods have arisen.
American Gods is set to begin shooting next month. No release date has yet been announced.