Neil Gaiman, author of the novel on which “American Gods” is based, will take a central role leading the show in its second season. Other than that, the Starz’ series future isn’t clear.
Starz CEO Chris Albrecht said at the Television Critics Association Friday that the Season 2 cast is largely up in the air at the moment.
“Gillian Anderson seems to be leaving everything, but this was not a surprise,” Albrecht said, referring to her announcement that she is done with “X-Files.” “We knew that she was not necessarily going to be able to come back.”
“But Kristen Chenoweth — as far as we all know — is still committed to the show, obviously pending her availability,” he continued. “As you are seeing, we’re having some trouble getting the second season underway. It’s an incredibly difficult adaptation of a fantastic novel.”
Which is one reason Starz turned to its author.
“Neil Gaiman will be taking more of a central role and moving forward into a more traditional showrunner function,” Albrecht said. “And we’re looking for a partner for him who can ensure that the television part of this gets appropriate attention.”
So what actually happened with the old guys, series creators and book-adapters Bryan Fuller and Michael Green?
“They were not fired nor did they quit,” Albrecht said, when pushed.
And apparently, Fuller and Green will still have some involvement going forward, Abrecht said. How much is up to them, Gaiman, and production company Fremantle.
Whatever. Just get us a Season 2 already, fans are probably thinking right about now.
So is Albrecht.
“We’re hoping for many more American Gods to appear on Starz,” he concluded.