Movie Adaptation Of Neil Gaiman's American Gods In The Works

Movie Adaptation Of Neil Gaiman's American Gods In The Works

A movie based on Gaiman's novel, which exists in the same universe as The Sandman, is in the pipeline. And the writer thinks that the director that is on board is "a genius"..

News
By MarkCassidy - Mar 29, 2011 02:03 AM EST
Filed Under: American Gods
Source: Digital Spy
Gaiman has revealed to Digital Spy that an adaptation of his 2001 novel American Gods is in the works.



He tells the site that the film rights have just been sold, though he wont reveal to whom, and that there is a director and cinematographer on board.

"There is one cinematographer and director on board who has many, many Oscars and is, I think, a genius…I love the fact that he fell in love with this about six or seven years ago and has not given up and just kept coming back and coming back.”


American Gods seems to be loosely set in the same universe as Gaiman's Sandman comics(and thus set in the main DC Universe at a stretch!) and contains themes and imagery that also pop up in The Sandman as well as Gaiman's interpretations of Odin and Loki among others.

Here is a brief synopsis..

American Gods, which won the Hugo and Nebula awards, is a blend of Americana and fantasy; the story follows an ex-convict by the name of Shadow, who finds himself in a journey filled with mythological characters and modern-day godlike figures who only exist because people believe in them.


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Angelus
Angelus - 3/29/2011, 3:12 AM
I reported this some days ago? Here's the link: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Sector2814/news/?a=33829
Borchard
Borchard - 3/29/2011, 3:21 AM
sounds like like Percy Jackson and the lightning theif....loosely that is.
Bobby2889
Bobby2889 - 3/29/2011, 3:43 AM
Id love to see this as a mini series with Dominic Purcell as Shadow and Peter Stormare as Czernoborg. Not sure who would play Odin or Mr. Nancy as they are so specific in my mind
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/29/2011, 3:55 AM
Sorry Angelus, didn't see that at all.

I think(or maybe just hope) the director COULD be Guillermo Del Toro. Who doesn't have "lots" of Oscars, but is a great mate of Gaiman's.

Tea, found your entry to the First Class contest, will post it there asap:)
BobHasMyPants
BobHasMyPants - 3/29/2011, 4:08 AM
great news, while reading the book I always pictured Gerard Butler as Shadow. Can't wait
marvel72
marvel72 - 3/29/2011, 4:12 AM
never heard of the book,but sounds intresting.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/29/2011, 4:24 AM
Oh, and just cos it's awesome..

VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 3/29/2011, 4:25 AM
Will Agent Coulson appear on it?
emilyella
emilyella - 3/29/2011, 4:35 AM
im both worried and keen for this. its one fo my favourite books and neil gaiman is one of the best authors. the book is awesome, hope they dont ruin it
emilyella
emilyella - 3/29/2011, 4:35 AM
and yeah gerard butler is good casting!
emilyella
emilyella - 3/29/2011, 4:39 AM
and as much as i love percy jackson (i really do) im happy to say this book is NOTHING like it :)
GeekMobRoanoke
GeekMobRoanoke - 3/29/2011, 4:54 AM
If they do it right..This movie will be Amazing!...
BobHasMyPants
BobHasMyPants - 3/29/2011, 4:56 AM
@ Emily, I know right, I should work in movies. Bring on Neverwhere!!
emilyella
emilyella - 3/29/2011, 5:09 AM
haha, i find myself saying a lot "yeah gerard butler would be good!" i didnt realize i thort he was so talented.
also
i wonder who the director is??
ZurEnArrh
ZurEnArrh - 3/29/2011, 5:12 AM
Correction: American Gods doesn't take place in the same universe as The Sandman. The Sandman is set in the DC Universe, and American Gods doesn't have any superheroes in it, last time I checked.
emilyella
emilyella - 3/29/2011, 5:14 AM
@ZurEnArrh i was thinking the exact same thing
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 3/29/2011, 5:20 AM
So? Doesn't mean a thing. The Sandman is a part of the larger DCU but it's also it's own self contained universe in which American Gods is a part of. Or at least hints at being a part of. Gaiman's interpretations of Loki, Odin, Bast and others all feature prominently in Sandman. And there are no super heros in Sandman either aside from a few cameos early on. Not only that but there are direct references to dreams and situations from the Sandman comics.
Matador
Matador - 3/29/2011, 5:25 AM
I thought this was a cool book and would a very intersting movie adaptation. Though I didn't see how Sandman would be related to this or DC since it felt more stand alone, not to mention there is a 2nd book to this called Anansi Boys.
rocky
rocky - 3/29/2011, 5:41 AM
I think Gaiman has been taking lessons from Millar on how to build up hype

That aside, great news. I too always felt this was its own universe. But that's neither here or there just get it done...properly
imnotwearinghockeypants
imnotwearinghockeypants - 3/29/2011, 6:15 AM
Wasn't as big a fan of this book as I was Neverwhere. Still, it'd be interesting to see it made. Always pictured Shadow as an older Mel Gibson.
hanzo
hanzo - 3/29/2011, 8:46 AM
i dunno y but i've always pictured mr.wednesday as morgan freeman..haha..
Betty
Betty - 3/29/2011, 9:02 AM
Oh hell yeah! This book is the shit!
danwgriff
danwgriff - 3/29/2011, 9:42 AM
Great find Angelus!!!
soberchimera
soberchimera - 3/29/2011, 12:04 PM
that's a loooooooooooooong ass book. I think a mini-series on HBO would be better than a film.
yankeemanf
yankeemanf - 3/29/2011, 1:34 PM
this looks great and they director he is describing im hoping its chris nolan
iwantmyPuckspinoff
iwantmyPuckspinoff - 3/29/2011, 3:27 PM
I always imagined Shadow as a bulky Native American considering his ability to pass between spiritual spaces and roll with it. Kind of a medicine man in the genes who long ago left behind his heritage. Someone like a Javier Bardem (yes, I know he's not Native American). I always imagined Mr. Wednesday looking a bit like John Neville from Adventures of Baron Munchausen. I could see John Hurt or Geoffrey Rush in an updated, but similar look. Maybe a Frank Langella.
Bobby2889
Bobby2889 - 3/29/2011, 3:41 PM
definetly Geoffrey Rush and like I said before should be a mini with Dominic Purcell as the lead.
RexDartEskimoSpy
RexDartEskimoSpy - 3/31/2011, 10:34 AM
Borchard, American Gods is nothing like Percy Jackson, besides them both being fantasy novels set in the "real" world.

Puckspinoff, holy sh!t, Javier Bardem as Shadow would be amazing. I've been picturing Dominic Purcell as Shadow for years, based on the vague description Gaiman gives him. As for Wednesday, Brian Cox or I will cry fanboy tears. (Peter Stormare is a no-brainer for Czernobog, there's no need for discussion.)

And for the love of gods please don't cast Morgan Freeman as Mr Nancy! Not that he isn't great, but there are other senior black actors on Earth, Hollywood. (Brock Peters would've been perfect, alas he died a few years ago. And while I'm casting dead screen legends, Paul Newman as Hinzelmann, who probably won't even be in the movie.)
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