'American Gods': A look at the new fantasy series coming from Starz
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Neil Gaiman fans got some very good news recently.听
Mr. Gaiman鈥檚 acclaimed book 鈥淎merican Gods鈥� is reportedly moving forward as a series at the network Starz, according to .听
鈥淕ods鈥� was released in 2001 and centers on Shadow Moon, a man who has recently been released from prison and becomes the bodyguard for a con man named Mr. Wednesday. He soon discovers that the world is full of old gods who are trying to fight back against the new gods, who represent forces like the Internet and transportation. The book won such prizes as the Nebula and Hugo Awards.听
According to Deadline, Starz has given a series order to 鈥淕ods鈥� and two of the people who will be behind the camera are Bryan Fuller, who created the NBC series 鈥淗annibal,鈥� and Michael Green, who served as an executive producer on the TV shows 鈥淭he River鈥� and 鈥淗eroes,鈥� among others. Gaiman himself will serve as executive producer for "Gods."聽
Starz has already scored a hit with the book-to-TV adaptation of 鈥淥utlander,鈥� another beloved literary property.听
Why would a network want to move forward with a thick fantasy novel like this? One big factor is probably 鈥淕ame of Thrones.鈥� The HBO TV show based on George R.R. Martin鈥檚 fantasy novels has become the network鈥檚 highest-rated show ever last year, according to , and 鈥淭hrones,鈥� like 鈥淕ods,鈥� has a high page count and many characters.听
In addition, Starz already scored with a TV adaptation of a lengthy novel with many characters. 鈥淥utlander,鈥� which debuted in the fall of 2014, 聽had the highest-rated series debut ever for the network, according to . Some of that may have been curious viewers who had never heard of the book before, but a lot of those numbers were most likely diehard fans.
If some writers鈥� reactions to the news about 鈥淕ods鈥� is any indication, the adaptation of Gaiman鈥檚 novel will be bringing a strong fan base to this TV show, too. 鈥淪tarz is turning 'American Gods' into a TV show聽because somebody up there loves me,鈥� writer Kadeen Griffiths wrote. 鈥淭he Neil Gaiman novel is the ultimate dream for mythology fans all over the world.鈥� Meanwhile, writer Sandra Gonzalez wrote of the TV adaptation, 鈥淲e thank the gods for the鈥� news鈥� and Marc Snetiker of wrote that there are 鈥渉uge reasons to be excited for Starz鈥檚 鈥楢merican Gods鈥欌�� With Bryan Fuller, Michael Green, and Gaiman on board [for] the production, geeks everywhere can collectively sigh in relief that the sublime novel is in great hands鈥� [this] could very well be television鈥檚 next great fantasy series.鈥�
