Ian McShane to Star in American Gods

BEVERLY HILLS: Ian McShane (Deadwood, Ray Donovan) has been cast as Mr. Wednesday in the upcoming TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s contemporary fantasy novel American Gods, which is produced by FremantleMedia North America for Starz.

McShane joins Ricky Whittle, who was recently announced to play Shadow Moon in American Gods. The series will begin shooting in April. Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, Heroes) and Michael Green (The River, Kings, Heroes) are writers and showrunners.

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 (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.”

Fuller and Green added, “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.”

Starz retains all network pay-TV and SVOD rights to the project. FremantleMedia is distributing the series worldwide.