sean-harris-prometheus

While one would have thought that St. Patrick’s Day might have been the perfect time to announce this casting it looks like Starz has just cast not only Mad Sweeney in ‘American Gods but also Bilquis and a “New God” named Technician Boy. The adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s classic novel is moving forward at full steam ahead with showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green getting ever close to finalizing casting and getting the series into full-on production mode.

I can’t wait!

So who has joined the cast you might be wondering? First up, fans of the novel will want to know who is playing Mad Sweeney and that honor has gone to Sean Harris (‘Prometheus’,’Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’) and I have to say I think he’ll be a perfect fit. Starz is describing his character as “a down on his luck leprechaun, who is having a hard time understanding how he lost his charm and way” and without giving away any spoilers from the novel that about sums up what you would expect of him.

Sean Harris
Sean Harris

Joining Sweeney’s announcement we also have Nigerian actress Yetide Badaki (‘Expiration’,’Sequestered’) who will play the ancient love goddess Bilquis and 7 (‘Deadly Waters’) who is a newer actor that has signed on to portray a “New God” of technology who is going by the name of Technician Boy.

Yetide Badaki Bruce Langley
Yetide Badaki and Bruce Langley

In the novel we see the start of a war playing out between the old Gods from various mythologies taking on the New Gods which embody the ideas of “money, technology, media, celebrity, and drugs.” In it we follow Shadow Moon who was been hired to be the bodyguard of the mysterious Mr. Wednesday. His task is to keep this man safe who soon shows his true face as one of the Old Gods who is trying to recruit the old pantheons to take up arms against the newcomers.

What do you think of Sean Harris being cast as Mad Sweeney? Are you excited that we’re three steps closer to finally being able to watch Gaiman’s masterpiece? Share your thoughts below!

Synopsis:

American Gods has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.