Bryan Fuller may be busy putting mortals in space, but that hasn’t stopped him from appointing American Gods at home. Following the initial announcement of Shadow Moon, Fuller reveals that Deadwood’s foul-mouthed Ian McShane will take the coveted regular role of Mr. Wednesday, himself among the famed American Gods.

The fellow former Ray Donovan and upcoming Game of Thrones star McShane will take the regular role of Mr. Wednesday, described as a crafty and endlessly charismatic con man, full of perverse wisdom, curious magic, and grand plans. The character hires ex-con Shadow Moon (The 100 star Ricky Whittle) to be his bodyguard as he journeys across America, using his charms to recruit others like him as he prepares for the ultimate battle for power.

Said original author Neil Gaiman of the casting:

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. I’ve already been lucky enough to have him in one film (he was bright blue in it, animated, and probably Polish). Now I count myself even luckier: he’s made the journey from ‘Lovejoy’ to ‘American Gods.’ Yesterday was Super Tuesday. Today is Wonderful Wednesday.

For those unfamiliar with Sandman creator Gaiman’s novel, American Gods follows ex-convict Shadow Moon, who partners up with mysterious con-man Mr. Wednesday (secretly a god himself), becoming embroiled in a battle between classic mythological gods who have fallen out of style, and the “new” American gods based on greed, technology and celebrity.

Hannibal creator Fuller and Heroes alum Michael Green will write and and showrun the series, with Gaiman acting as EP (and writing a few episodes), produced by FremantleMedia North America, and shooting set to begin in Toronto in April. As with Hannibal, David Slade will also direct episodes (including the pilot), as well as produce.

We’ll hear plenty more casting in the coming months, but what else might we expect from Starz and Fuller’s adaptation of American Gods?

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