The good news is that after begging for it just a couple of weeks ago, we got a premiere date for the show : Sunday, April 30th!!! And in the meantime, we can get excited about the amazing press the first episode has already generated. Critics and Gaiman fans alike are excited to have more people see where this show is going to take us. If you are as sad as me that we missed the official premiere, at least check out the panel afterwards with showrunners, Bryan Fuller and Michael Green and the stars: Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning and the rest.
Highlights from the SXSW American Gods Panel:
- First of all, the maoderator is Laura Prudom, who is so sweet and fun! Hi, Laura!
- One of the hot topics coming out of SXSW about American Gods is how timely it suddenly seems with the current political evolution here in the USofA. All at once, a show about immigration stories and religion couldn’t possibly be more timely. Or, as Bryan Fuller puts it in the panel: [Our] political climate shat its pants. Indeed.
- One of the big changes from book to screen will be seeing what Laura Moon is up to when she’s offscreen in the book. According to Emily she becomes a macabre guardian angel for Shadow. When asked what her character believes in, Emily said she believes in him – in her love for him. As cliche and subservient as that sounds, it’s actually a big departure from Laura’s literal ghostly presence in the novel. Seeing her expanded with more agency will be a treat for book readers.
- Bilquis and Audrey have expanded story lines as well – so, as Bryan puts it, it’s not so much of a sausage party in the world they’ve created. Yes, folks, you heard that right. The showrunners were INTENTIONAL about putting more female driven story lines and characters in the adaptation. BE STILL OUR HEARTS.
- I love how Yetide describes her character, Bilquis, the Queen of Sheba, as someone that has this ancient power, how her story is about how she deals with the loss of her agency in a new world. I would love to see Bilquis struggling to get not just the sexual worship she’s used to but the recognition of her relegated place in the new American society.
- Ian McShane is just an ultimate salesman. He loves the source material, he apparently loves the show, and I think he also loves giving away spoilers.
- Mad Sweeney, played by Pablo Schreiber, believes he’s lost his spark (his coin), and spends his time chasing a woman (Laura?) who he believes can give it back to him. His expanded story is going to be interesting as well, especially if it collides with Laura.
- Speaking of immigrant stories and having just read Homegoing, I CANNOT WAIT for Orlando Jones as Mr Nancy. He calls him the spider and weaver of tales, and those stories are going to be SO important.
- One last note: The diversity of characters, insisted upon by Gaiman, delineated by the text, and realized by the amazing cast.
American Gods premieres on Starz Sunday, April 30th. Will you be worshipping?
