Get to know The American Gods

Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name is now an eight-part TV series. Initial teasers and character posters have ignited the curiousity among the Gaiman loyals. But the Fannibals (people who have followed showrunner Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal) are feeling enthusiastic about what he has to offer with his next venture. It’s a war between the gods of old, who follow tradition, and the gods of new, who thrive on money, media, fame, technology.

This is where Shadow Moon and Mr Wednesday come into play. The duo plans to unite these powers. Will they succeed? The series works its way to a solution. Here’s a rundown of who plays what in the series set to release on April 30.

THE OTHERS
People who are neither Old Gods nor New Gods

Shadow Moon 

British actor Ricky Whittle, is the reluctant hero of the series. (Wonder what Samuel L Jackson has to say about this one) According to Whittle, Shadow is working on getting his mojo back after being broken into pieces by a prison term and the loss of his wife. He will start out as Mr Wednesday’s driver. But that’s not the extent of his responsibilities.

Robbie Burton

Dane Cook’s character is described by showrunner Michael Green as ‘a really entertaining dick.’ Comic relief?

Audrey Burton

Robbie Burton and Laura Moon die in an accident. That gives Betty Gilpin’s character a chance to come onto Shadow. Free pass after spouses are gone?

Laura Moon

Emily Browning’s character is supposedly dead. Leading to Shadow and Mr Wednesday’s meeting. But she comes back from the dead to help her husband. Browning defines her character as ‘slightly awful guardian angel’.

OLD GODS
Ancient gods trying to fight the new powers

Mr Wednesday

Ian McShane is an Odin-like character (ravens and all) the god leading other old gods in the battle against the new ones. According to former Game of Thrones member McShane, Mr Wednesday doesn’t shy from using whatever means necessary — and we do mean whatever — to win the war because he knows he is right.

Bilquis

She’s an ancient deity and the Queen of Sheba. Yetide Badaki’s character has a really badass entry into the pantheon. Because, hey, the goddess of love ain’t feeling too worshipped these days. Show her some love, y’all!

Mad Sweeney

Pablo Schreiber plays a violent ‘giant’ of a leprechaun, who works for Mr Wednesday and is originally Irish. His madness gave him power. He ends up chasing a woman the entire season when he loses his spark. Schreiber thinks men can relate to it when it comes to chasing romantic interests.

Mr Nancy

Orlando Jones believes that talking about beliefs and how these beliefs bring people together as opposed to how they tear them apart is a part of the tricky journey of Mr Nancy, the African god.

Easter

Like the name suggests, Kristin Chenoweth’s old god with platinum blond hair and a curvaceous body has resurrection powers. Unlike other old gods, the commercialiasation of Easter in our day and times, has been helping her live it.

Vulcan

Corbin Bernsen’s character has been created for the show. It is to help understand American love and worship of guns. He is Mr Wednesday’s ally.

Low Key Lyesmith

Say Low Key in quick succession quite a few times. This is the TV version of Loki. The god of mischief. Jonathan Tucker’s character is Shadow’s pal from prison.

Czernobog 

Peter Stormare is playing the 12th-century Slavic god responsible for all destruction and bad things in the world. Shadow tricks him into joining Wednesday’s quest with the promise that Czernobog can bash his head in with a sledgehammer when it’s all over.

NEW GODS
New mediums, new ways to make people worship you

Mr World 

Crispin Glover’s character is the leader of the new gods. The show keeps building up the mystery around Mr World with secondhand talk and legends about him. Glover’s character brief from Bryan Fuller and Michael Green was just as mystical:We are the world. We are the children.

Media

Gillian Anderson will play the new god of radio, television, the new means of power in modern life. Anderson is reuniting with her Hannibal helmer.

Technical Boy 

Bruce Langley’s character is the driving force of our time. He is shadowing Shadow to gain the upperhand in the war of gods. Langley thinks that his character is, in so many ways, the driving force and part of the driving force of what could and will be.