Neil Gaiman seems to be all the rage at the moment for Amazon Prime Video. Fresh off the success of their adaptation of his 2001 novel American Gods, the streaming service has plans to give a similar treatment to Gaiman’s much loved 1990 novel Good Omens, which he wrote with Terry Prachett. The comedy-horror fantasy series will premiere in 2019, and this week the first cast members were revealed.
First up is former Doctor Who star David Tennant, who will be playing the demon Crowley in the series, which feels particularly well cast, especially after his creepy turn in Netflix’s Jessica Jones. Joining him will be another British heavyweight, Michael Sheen, who will play the “somewhat fussy angel and rare book dealer Aziraphale”.
Michael Sheen says of his casting: “I first read Good Omens as a teenager and it’s been one of my favourite stories ever since. To be part of the team entrusted with bringing it alive on screen is a bit of a dream come true to be honest. To work alongside Neil, who I think is one of the greatest storytellers of all time, is incredibly exciting. And, just like the rest of the world, I’m a huge fan of David’s so I relish trying to save it with him.”
And David Tennant says of his casting: “Michael Sheen, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett and directed by Douglas Mackinnon, it’s a dream team and a dream gig. I am very excited that I’ve been asked to be part of this amazing project. Bring on the Apocalypse!”
In a unique partnership, BBC Studios is behind the production, which was greenlit back in January and will be launched globally for Amazon Prime Video members in 2019 across six, one hour episodes. Neil Gaiman will also serve as Showrunner, Executive Producer and he has adapted the novel for the screen. He had this to say about this week’s announcement:
“If you are looking for actors to play two of the best-loved characters you and Terry Pratchett ever created, then, if you are very lucky and have been very good, you will get Michael Sheen and David Tennant to bring them to life. The best Welsh actor of his generation gets to be an angel, the best Scottish actor of his, a demon. Terry and I wrote Good Omens (I like to think it’s one of the funniest novels ever written about the end of the world and how we are all going to die) almost 30 years ago. It’s strange that it feels more relevant now than it ever did before. I only wish that Terry could be here to see it come to life with such a fantastic team.”
For those who haven’t read the original book, the story revolves around the angel Aziraphale (Sheen) and the demon Crowley (Tennant), “both of whom have lived amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and of each other. So it’s really terrible news for both of them that, if Heaven and Hell have their way, the world will end on Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. The armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis has risen, tempers are flaring. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are ready to ride. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Expect that someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist…”
Good Omens will be directed by Douglas Mackinnon, whose credits include Doctor Who, Outlander and the standalone Victorian episode of Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie last year. Mackinnon, who also serves as executive producer, had this to say about joining the production:
“Ironically, given that it is a timeless novel, the Good Omens story stretches from the beginning of time to quite near the end of time. I am honoured to be working with Neil Gaiman (and Terry Pratchett in absentia) and directing such a wonderfully prestigious project for Amazon and BBC Studios. I hope to deliver an epic parcel of fun just before Armageddon arrives instead.”
Good Omens will launch globally on PrimeVideo.com in 2019. Amazon Prime Video Original Series and popular movies and TV shows are available for PrimeVideo.com members to stream or download and enjoy anytime, anywhere.
Customers in Australia can access Amazon Prime Video at an introductory price of US$2.99 per month for the remainder of 2017 and US$5.99 thereafter. Members can watch Good Omens via the Amazon Prime Video app on Android and iOS phones and tablets, popular LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Android TV by Sony or online at PrimeVideo.com.
Pictured: David Tennant in Jessica Jones, courtesy of Netflix
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