Looks like Shadow Moon’s found quite the counterpart in his new Mr. Wednesday. Genre favorite and soon-to-be Game of Thrones actor Ian McShane has been cast as the co-lead in Starz’s TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman‘s American Gods, Nerdist has confirmed.
In a press release from the network, the novel’s author has described himself as over the moon (pun completely intended) with the new choice. “When you write a beloved character (beloved with, or despite, or because of all his faults) like Mr. Wednesday, you get to watch the internet trying to cast the role. I’ve seen a hundred names suggested, but few make me grin like Ian McShane does.”
“Yesterday was Super Tuesday,” Gaiman added. “Today is Wonderful Wednesday.”
Joining The 100 actor Ricky Whittle—slated to play the aforementioned lead, Shadow—in the Bryan Fuller and Michael Green-run adaptation, McShane is a formidable choice, being described as an “Actor. Icon. And now god,” by the series’ showrunners. The duo added that, “It is a goddamn delight to be collaborating with the incomparable Ian McShane — again and for the first time — on a story about faith and belief, with the utmost faith and belief in Mr. McShane as our Mr. Wednesday. A wonderful Wednesday indeed.”
For those of you who haven’t read the books, Mr. Wednesday is a main character and leader of the Old Gods in the war of Old vs. New. He’s also the god of wisdom in the Norse pantheon, otherwise known as Odin the All-Father (in America, he’s a con artist, naturally). He works closely with Shadow after the two meet on a plane and is described, in the Starz iteration, as “a crafty and endlessly charismatic con man, full of perverse wisdom, curious magic, and grand plans.”
Are you excited about McShane becoming Mr. Wednesday? Let us know in the comments below!
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Image Credit: HBO
Alicia Lutes is the Managing Editor at Nerdist. Find her on Twitter (@alicialutes).
And while we’re talking ’bout our main man Ian, let’s consider what his mysterious Thrones role may be in this recent episode of Nerdist News:
