So maybe she isn’t going to be the new Bond (though I can dream), but we have been blessed by a lot ofGillian Andersonon our screens lately. Last year she followed upHannibal’s final run with a return toThe X-Files, and also starred in the Netflix seriesThe Fall, along with a small role in Lifetime’s excellentWar & Peaceminiseries. Now, Starz has announced she will be appearing in their upcoming seriesAmerican Gods, whichHannibalcreatorBryan Fullerwill be co-showrunning alongsideMichael Green.
According to a press release,
“Anderson will play Media, the mouthpiece for the New Gods, functioning as their public face and sales representative, by taking the form of various iconic celebrities. She lives off the attention and worship that people give to screens-to their laptops, their TVs, to their iPhones in their hands while they watch their TVs. Ever the perky spokesperson, and always in control, she spins stories in whatever direction best suits her.”
The role sounds perfect for Anderson, but then again, what role doesn’t? She plays every character with aplomb.
The production, based onNeil Gaiman’s novel, has set the majority of its cast, though there was arecent swapout withOrange Is the New Black’sPablo Schreiber(better to forget aboutThe Brink) taking over forSean Harrisas Mad Sweeney. Harrisleft the production for personal reasons, and while he definitely physically fit the part of the “a down on his luck leprechaun, who is having a hard time understanding how he lost his charm and way,” Schreiber will surely find his own unique interpretation of the character.
The story, which tells the tale of a war between gods of the old world and new (the new gods representing things like drugs, celebrity, and technology), starsThe 100’sRick Whittleas Shadow Moon, an ex-con who becomes the bodyguard of Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), a mysterious traveler.
As we reported recently, other (stellar) cast members includeEmily Browningas Laura Moon,Yetide Badakias Bilquis, the ancient goddess of love,Bruce Langleyas the new god Technical Boy,Crispin Gloveras Mr. World,Jonathan Tuckeras Low Key Lyesmith,Cloris Leachmanas a guardian sister of the constellations named Zorya Vechernyaya,Peter Stormareas Slavic god of darkness Czernobog,Chris Obias Egyptian god Anubis, andMousa Kraishas The Jinn, a mythic fire creature. “The producers have teased that liberties will be taken with the source material, and that some of these minor characters — especially Laura — will get larger parts.”
American Godsis set to air on Starz in 2017.
