David Tennant & Michael Sheen to Star in Amazon’s Good Omens

Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex) and David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) have been lined up for the lead roles in a TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens.

Sheen will star as the somewhat fussy angel and rare-book dealer Aziraphale, and Tennant will play his opposite number, the fast-living demon Crowley. The six-episode adaptation will debut on Amazon Prime Video and BBC Two in 2019. Gaiman (American Gods) has written the scripts and will serve as showrunner, in addition to producing the series alongside Caroline Skinner (Doctor Who) and Chris Sussman (Fleabag).

Good Omens is being produced by the comedy team at BBC Studios, Narrativia and The Blank Corporation, in association with BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide will distribute second-run rights internationally.

Sheen said: “I first read Good Omens as a teenager and it’s been one of my favorite stories ever since. To be part of the team entrusted with bringing it alive on screen is a bit of a dream come true, to be honest. To work alongside Neil, who I think is one of the greatest storytellers of all time, is incredibly exciting. And, just like the rest of the world, I’m a huge fan of David’s so I relish trying to save it with him.”

Tennant added: “Michael Sheen, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett and directed by Douglas Mackinnon, it’s a dream team and a dream gig. I am very excited that I’ve been asked to be part of this amazing project. Bring on the Apocalypse!”

Douglas Mackinnon, director and executive producer, said: “Ironically, given that it is a timeless novel, the Good Omens story stretches from the beginning of time to quite near the end of time. I am honored to be working with Neil Gaiman (and Terry Pratchett in absentia) and directing such a wonderfully prestigious project for BBC Studios and Amazon. I hope to deliver an epic parcel of fun just before Armageddon arrives instead.”

Gaiman remarked: “If you are looking for actors to play two of the best-loved characters you and Terry Pratchett ever created, then, if you are very lucky and have been very good, you will get Michael Sheen and David Tennant to bring them to life. The best Welsh actor of his generation gets to be an angel, the best Scottish actor of his, a demon. Terry and I wrote Good Omens (I like to think it’s one of the funniest novels ever written about the end of the world and how we are all going to die) almost 30 years ago. It’s strange that it feels more relevant now than it ever did before. I only wish that Terry could be here to see it come to life with such a fantastic team.”

Chris Sussman, the head of comedy at BBC Studios and executive producer, said: “We’re thrilled two actors of the caliber of Michael and David loved the scripts as much as we do, and have signed up to play the leads. This is a very good omen for the project indeed.”

Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios and Prime Video content globally, said: “We could not have hoped for two better-suited actors to take the roles in this highly-anticipated show. We look forward to seeing David and Michael make these roles their own, as they are sure to do, and look forward to bringing the show to Prime members around the world in 2019.”

Rob Wilkins, executive producer and Narrativia managing director, added: “I can say with absolute certainty that Terry would be utterly delighted with our Crowley and Aziraphale—both David and Michael were very much in his mind for the roles when we began developing this series for television all those years ago, and I can’t believe we’ve been lucky enough to sign up our dream choices now. I’m so excited that we are this close to filming Neil’s brilliant scripts with Douglas at the helm.”