'American Gods' to become extended series on HBO

Neil Gaiman's novel “American Gods” is set to become an HBO series spanning six seasons totaling as many as 72 episodes.

The series would span six seasons.

The Hollywood Reporter spoke with Playtone Production partner Gary Goetzman recently about the project.

Goetzman and Tom Hanks will executive produce with Bob Richardson and Gaiman writing.

According to the latest report, the series will be six season, with each season containing 10 to 12 hour-long episodes with a budget of around $35 to $40 million. The series could debut on HBO as soon as 2013.

“American Gods” was published in 2001 to critical applause, winning the 2002 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, SFX Magacine and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The story follows Shadow, a man released from prison only to find his life turned upside down. He is hired by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, becoming a piece in a larger conflict with the very soul of America on the line.

The country's varied religions and belief systems take center stage with their deities becoming active characters.

“There are some crazy things in there. We’ll probably be doing more effects in there than it’s been done on a television series,” Goetzman told The Hollywood Reporter.

It was first reported in April that the project could be heading to HBO after Gaiman himself broke the news his book's film rights had been sold.

'American Gods' heading to HBO?

Deadline is reporting that Neil Gaiman's novel “American Gods” could be heading to HBO as a series.

Gaiman said in an interview with Digital Spy last month a film adaptation was in the works. In the interview, Gaiman did not reveal the identity of the company, but said he would be meeting with them to "find out where they're going and if there's any way that I can help."

"There is one cinematographer and director on board who has many, many Oscars and is, I think, a genius," Gaiman said. "I love the fact that he fell in love with this about six or seven years and has not given up."

According to Deadline, that cinematographer is Robert Richardson (“Shutter Island,” “Inglourious Basterds”) and he brought the project to the attention Playton partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. They in turn approached HBO and are now in talks.

Richardson will reportedly write the pilot with Gaiman.

“American Gods” was published in 2001 to critical applause, winning the 2002 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, SFX Magacine and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The story follows Shadow, a man released from prison only to find his life turned upside down. He is hired by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, becoming a piece in a larger conflict with the very soul of America on the line.

Publisher Harper Colllins describes the book as such: “As unsettling as it is exhilarating, 'American Gods' is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page.”

I was skeptical following Gaiman's original announcement that “American Gods” could be converted into a movie and maintain its epic qualities, so I welcome the news HBO is considering the project. They're preparing for the debut of another fantasy epic in the form of “Game of Thrones,” which begins Sunday night at 9 p.m.

The early reviews have been extremely positive and if any place could pull off a faithful adaptation of “American Gods,” it is HBO.

Gaiman confirms 'American Gods' film is in the works

Neil Gaiman confirmed in an interview with Digital Spy a film adaptation of his celebrated novel "American Gods" is in the works.

In the interview, published Friday, Gaiman said the movie rights were sold in the past week. He did not reveal the identity of the company, but said he would be meeting with them to "find out where they're going and if there's any way that I can help."

"There is one cinematographer and director on board who has many, many Oscars and is, I think, a genius," Gaiman said. "I love the fact that he fell in love with this about six or seven years and has not given up."

"American Gods" was published in 2001 to critical applause , winning the 2002 Hugo, Nebula, Locus, SFX Magacine and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The story follows Shadow, a man released from prison only to find his life turned upside down. He is hired by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, becoming a piece in a larger conflict with the very soul of America on the line.

Publisher Harper Colllins describes the book as such: "As unsettling as it is exhilarating, 'American Gods' is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page."

Gaiman's announcement sparks several questions.

First, of course, is how will the filmmakers be able to convert "American Gods"--which essentially features humanity's collected mythological pantheon breaking out into civil war--into two or so hours of cinema? "Stardust" and "Coraline" are previous examples of his working being adapted into successful movies, the latter being nominated for an Academy Award.

It seems Gaiman, who apparently has resisted offers in the past, has faith in his "genius" director.

Which brings up to the next question. Who is he? Did he mean a director with multiple wins? A cinematographer with multiple wins? Or one of the above whose films won Oscars? There only a handful of directors with two Academy Award wins, one of whom is Clint Eastwood, whose last film had to do with the hereafter.

We'll just have to wait and see.