# Cast Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 24, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420 "2013-07-24T21:28:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/41 "2014-02-07T13:17:06Z")
> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> Actually, Eddie Murphy probably would be a good Anansi, just with a bit of age makeup. And he certainly knows his way around latex age makeup.
I think Eddie Murphy brings too much baggage to the table. Besides, Danny John Jules just has a [twinkle in his eye](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ0OTk2Mjk2MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTEzNzQwOA@@._V1_SX214_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg) that says “mischievous” that Eddie Murphy lacks.
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### Author:  [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/42 "2014-02-07T21:01:23Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#):
>
> Mr Nancy has to be Lenny Henry.
Agreed!
> [@Gyrate](#):
>
> I always pictured Hinzelmann as Richard Dreyfus or a similar type (actually more [Jack Nance](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0620756/?ref_=tt_cl_t12) in _Twin Peaks_, but he’s dead, alas).
Ooh, I like that idea.
For me, Mr. Wednesday is Charles Dance. Yes, it’s probably because I saw him play a one-eyed guy in Last Action Hero around the time I read the book, but I think he’d be awesome.
I think Jackie Earle Haley would make a great Low-Key.
And yes, Shadow is mixed race. There’s even mention of his mother having sickle-cell anemia. Agreed that The Rock has the right look - I wonder if he could handle something more dramatic.
What about Laura Fraser for Laura? She played Lydia on Breaking Bad, and was so great at making me despise her. Plus she has already played a lead role in a Gaiman adaptation! (She was Door in Neverwhere.)
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### Author:  [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/43 "2014-02-10T02:39:10Z")
Shadow has grey eyes and straight black hair, if I recall correctly. A prison guard asks him if he’s a gypsy or a spic. I agree that the sickle cell reference seems a hint at his mother’s ancestry.
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/44 "2016-01-28T17:27:35Z")
UPDATE: Neil Gaiman has just announced the casting of **Ricky Whittle** as Shadow.
So there you go. We’re off!
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/45 "2016-01-28T20:11:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#):
>
> UPDATE: Neil Gaiman has just announced the casting of **Ricky Whittle** as Shadow.
Lincoln from _The 100_?
I…I’m OK with this!
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### Author:  [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/46 "2016-01-28T20:19:02Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> Lincoln from _The 100_?
>
> I…I’m OK with this!
Agreed, for a body builder type, he’s one of the best actors in the 100- even if it’s mostly the strong, silent role.
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/47 "2016-01-28T20:27:35Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#):
>
> Agreed, for a body builder type, he’s one of the best actors in the 100- even if it’s mostly the **strong, silent role**.
(bolding mine)
Which is pretty much what Shadow is anyway.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/48 "2016-01-28T20:32:40Z")
It’s a good choice.
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### Author:  [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/49 "2016-01-28T21:46:08Z")
I haven’t seen The 100, but Mr Whittle certainly looks right to me. Any idea when we can expect the first episode?
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### Author:  [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/50 "2016-01-29T03:49:35Z")
Fine enough but I always imagined bulkier.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/51 "2016-01-29T06:09:36Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#):
>
> Agreed, for a body builder type, he’s one of the best actors in the 100- even if it’s mostly the strong, silent role.
Thing is, in _The 100_, he was able to convey strong, silent \*but intelligent \*rather capably, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2016, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/52 "2016-01-29T10:37:14Z")
Oh, and I’d like Ian McShane for Wednesday, please.
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### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2016, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/53 "2016-03-03T09:20:26Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> Oh, and I’d like Ian McShane for Wednesday, please.
[That’s two wishes left.](http://www.avclub.com/article/oh-shit-ian-mcshane-will-play-wednesday-american-g-233157)
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/54 "2016-03-03T12:24:39Z")
Ha! Just like the guys at the AV Club, I just did a “Fuck! Yeah!” fist-pump at my desk.
Excellent news, thanks for the update.
Now, Universe, I’d like world peace and a 12" penis.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/55 "2016-03-03T14:24:09Z")
> [@Alessan](#):
>
> [That’s two wishes left.](http://www.avclub.com/article/oh-shit-ian-mcshane-will-play-wednesday-american-g-233157)
Heh, that is awesome. He’s perfect for the role. It may as well have been written for him. 😃
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### Author:  [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/56 "2016-03-04T00:25:08Z")
That is awesome, I’m getting pretty excited about this adaptation now, especially since I fear Game of Thrones is going to be driven straight off a cliff this season.
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/57 "2016-08-11T13:08:09Z")
Dunno if anyone still cares (or if everyone knows) but the full cast list according to the Wiki page is:
**Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon
Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday
Emily Browning as Laura Moon
Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney
Yetide Badaki as Bilquis
Bruce Langley as Technical Boy
Jonathan Tucker as Low Key Lyesmith
Crispin Glover as Mr. World
Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya
Peter Stormare as Czernobog
Chris Obi as Mr. Jacquel
Mousa Kraish as the Jinn
Gillian Anderson as Media
Omid Abtahi as Salim
Orlando Jones as Mr. Nancy
Demore Barnes as Mr. Ibis
Dane Cook as Robbie
Kristin Chenoweth as Easter**
A fair number of actors I don’t know in there, some inspired casting including Gillian Anderson, Cloris Leachman, Peter Stormare, Crispin Glover and (much as I wanted Danny John-Jules) Orlando Jones, and only one real WTF moment in Kristin Chenoweth. I mean, I love KC as much as the next guy but casting a tiny twiglet of a woman as a fertility goddess does not do it for me.
Normally I’d hate the inclusion of Dane Cook but given how little his character appears in the book - and why - I can live with it.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/58 "2016-08-11T15:45:23Z")
> [@Gyrate](#):
>
> only one real WTF moment in Kristin Chenoweth. I mean, I love KC as much as the next guy but casting a tiny twiglet of a woman as a fertility goddess does not do it for me.
Yeah, I kind of had Eostre pictured as sort of a long haired blonde hippie with Christina Hendricks’ body, not scrawny little Kristin Chenoweth.
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### Author:  [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-neil-gaimans-american-gods/664420/59 "2016-08-12T15:11:17Z")
I am confused about something (spoilers?)
Why is their separate casting for Mr. World and Low Key?
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