HBO Executives Discuss The Network's American Gods Live-Action Adaptation

HBO Executives Discuss The Network's American Gods Live-Action Adaptation

HBO Co-President Richard Plepler and President of Programming Michael Lombardo provide a brief update on the network's current development of American Gods.

By MarkJulian - Jul 29, 2011 09:07 AM EST
Filed Under: American Gods
Source: Collider


Speaking to Christina Radish of Collider the two HBO executives provided the following updates on the networks plans regarding a HBO series based on Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

On how the success of Game of Thrones will impact American Gods:

MICHAEL LOMBARDO: We haven’t gotten out of the business of developing from source material. We haven’t said, “Ah, Game of Thrones, we’re not taking pitches anymore.” I think it’s a challenge, always. We want to satisfy as many of our consumers as we can. But, at the end of the day, what we respond to is great storytelling. We had three psychiatrist shows on at almost the same time. So, all I’m saying is, with source material from the fantasy world – and I don’t know how much you can extrapolate about George R.R. Martin because he’s very unique in the world – some pretty compelling shows can come from genre and source material. We’re open to it, we’re developing it, and we’ll see.

RICHARD PLEPLER: The key is what the auteur does with the source material, not the source material itself being dispositive or not. What Alan [Ball] did with Charlaine Harris was masterful. What David [Benioff] and Dan [Weiss] did with George R.R. Martin was masterful. But, it’s what they did with it.


On the level of commitment [rumored to be 6 seasons] to adaptingAmerican Gods:

PLEPLER: No, no, no, no, no.

LOMBARDO: It’s very early development. It hasn’t gotten to the place to even talk about that yet.

PLEPLER: What happens is that things like that get announced as development projects, and then somebody writes about it, as if there’s a 10-year commitment, and we haven’t even seen a script yet. That happens frequently. It’s in early development.


Hmmm. Sounds like this one might not be as "go" as everyone originally reported. Still, Neil Gaiman has a fan base just as large, if not larger [probably larger] than George R.R. Martin and I'm confident the people at HBO will recognize that they are sitting on another gold mine. With a sequel to the original novel on the way, as reported by Gaiman, this has the potential to be, dare I say it...........EPIC!


American Gods Synopsis:American Gods is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman. The novel is a blend of Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on a mysterious and taciturn protagonist, Shadow. It is Gaiman's fourth prose novel, being preceded by Good Omens (a collaboration with Terry Pratchett), Neverwhere, and Stardust. Several of the themes touched upon in the book were previously glimpsed in The Sandman graphic novels. The central premise of the novel is that gods and mythological creatures exist because people believe in them. Immigrants to the United States brought with them dwarves, elves, leprechauns, and other spirits and gods. However, the power of these mythological beings has diminished as people's beliefs wane. New gods have arisen, reflecting America's obsessions with media, celebrity, technology, and drugs, among others. The book follows the adventures of ex-convict Shadow, who is released from prison a few days earlier than planned on account of the death of his wife, Laura, in a car accident. He discovers at the funeral that the car crashed because Laura was performing oral sex on Shadow's late friend Robbie, who was driving. Even before learning of the death of Robbie, who was to give Shadow a job, Shadow has been repeatedly offered work as a bodyguard by a confidence man called Mr. Wednesday.

Captain America Superman



Neil Richard Gaiman (born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book. Gaiman's writing has won numerous awards, including Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker, as well as the 2009 Newbery Medal and 2010 Carnegie Medal in Literature. He is the first author to win both the Newbery and the Carnegie medals for the same work.

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sexymuppet
sexymuppet - 7/29/2011, 9:49 AM
Superman and batman are gay? Pictures, Images and Photos
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/29/2011, 10:24 AM
I'm reading this book as we speak. I wonder who will be cast as Shadow. Jason Momoa?
HelaGood
HelaGood - 7/29/2011, 10:50 AM
jason momoa?!?!? wtf?????

no way....

i LOVE this book!!! cant wait for this!!!
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 7/29/2011, 10:54 AM
Hopefully, it still happens and no way to Momoa for Shadow.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 7/29/2011, 11:07 AM
I remember reading somewhere that Shadow was mixed looking, so Momoa just springed to mind...
grandizer74
grandizer74 - 7/29/2011, 2:31 PM
please god don't let this happen. I hate everything gaiman has ever done. he's the most overrated author ever. as much as I hate trolls, he pushes all my buttons and makes me want to tell everyone else how terrible he is.
longbowhunter
longbowhunter - 7/29/2011, 2:41 PM
I have no idea what these people are bitching about. American Gods was great! I've read a ton of books and it was one of my favorites. I'm anxiously awaiting this series.
Matador
Matador - 7/29/2011, 2:45 PM
I actually liked the book too not gonna lie.
iwantmyPuckspinoff
iwantmyPuckspinoff - 7/29/2011, 4:14 PM
Now that Dark Towers is back in limbo, I'd dig seeing someone like Javier Bardem in the role of Shadow. Maybe a Jeffrey Dean Morgan? I don't see how six seasons would be pulled out of the first book. Maybe two? Depends on how many episodes make up a season. It varies so much anymore. But Gaiman has mentioned previously that he's got notes on what he thought might make a follow-up to American Gods, so maybe he takes those and applies to additional seasons if HBO wants to continue.
ZombieOverEasy
ZombieOverEasy - 7/29/2011, 10:50 PM
I'm on Chapter 14 right now (maybe 15, can't recall). Book is phenomenally good. Can't wait to see this.

@iwantmyPuckspinoff Javier & Jeffrey Dean Morgan are far too old for Shadow.
seamuskeaneart
seamuskeaneart - 7/30/2011, 2:38 AM
I thought the book was fine, just fine, nothing amazing. theres better out there. and talk about long winded.
belgerod
belgerod - 7/30/2011, 7:56 AM
Shadow is supposed to be big, but I wonder if that's one of those details they'll ditch at the slightest provocation.
AnimalMan
AnimalMan - 7/31/2011, 7:06 PM
I would like to see an adaption of AG, especially by HBO. On the other hand, it would be fantastic to spend the money on the following seasons of Carnivale, one of the most brilliant and underrated fantsy shows ever. It was original and challanging in its way of telling a story, without insulting the intelligence of the audience like Game of Thrones...but I#m still looking forward to this project...
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