Ian McShane Joins Starz’s American Gods as Mr. Wednesday
Debi Moore
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Our excitement about Starz’s upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” just got a big boost with the news that Ian McShane (“Deadwood,” “American Horror Story: Asylum”) has joined the cast as Mr. Wednesday. The series will begin shooting in April.
“American Gods” is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Heroes”) and Michael Green (“The River,” “Kings,” “Heroes”) are writers and showrunners. David Slade (“Hannibal,” The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) is directing the pilot and additional episodes.
Gaiman said, “When you write a beloved character (beloved with, or despite, or because of all his faults) like Mr. Wednesday, you get to watch the internet trying to cast the role. I’ve seen a hundred names suggested, but few make me grin like Ian McShane does. I’ve already been lucky enough to have him in one film [Coraline] (he was bright blue in it, animated, and probably Polish). Now I count myself even luckier: He’s made the journey from ‘Lovejoy’ to ‘American Gods.’ Yesterday was Super Tuesday. Today is Wonderful Wednesday.”
Commented Fuller and Green, “Actor. Icon. And now god. It is a goddamn delight to be collaborating with the incomparable Ian McShane — again and for the first time — on a story about faith and belief, with the utmost faith and belief in Mr. McShane as our Mr. Wednesday. A wonderful Wednesday indeed.”
Mr. Wednesday is a crafty and endlessly charismatic con man, full of perverse wisdom, curious magic, and grand plans. He hires ex-con Shadow Moon to be his bodyguard as he journeys across America, using his charms to recruit others like him as he prepares for the ultimate battle for power.
FMNA’s Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk are executive producing the series along with Fuller, Green, Slade, and Gaiman. Senior Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna is the Starz executive in charge of “American Gods.” Starz retains all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. FremantleMedia is distributing the series worldwide.
Synopsis:
A war is brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity, and drugs. Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), a con man but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.
Fans can tweet @AmericanGodsSTZ, @STARZ_Channel, and @FMNATV and join the conversation with #AmericanGods.
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