I know I said the next post would be a tribute to Crispin Glover.  That’s in the works, for sure, but I have to talk a little bit about my excitement/trepidation regarding an upcoming film or TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.  I don’t know if I’ve ever talked about it before, but I LOVE that book.  Gaiman said in a recent interview that a very important cinematographer had expressed interest, and that something would be in the works soon.  A March 28th report said that the novel, who centers on an ex-convict named Shadow and his interaction with gods of all cultures and times, would become a feature film.  A later report (April 15th) said that novel would be turned into a series.  I hope it’s both.

Ever since the book was published in 2001, fans have speculated as to who would play the characters in a movie version.  I have to admit, that on some sleepless my-brain-can’t-do-any-more-school-or-work nights, I have trolled the message boards, looking to see if anyone else had good ideas, and silently mocking their bad ideas.  So, as for the main characters of the story, I’ll give you a little rundown.

Shadow

Shadow is the main character.  He’s described as big, hunky, and brooding with light brown skin.  Some of the suggestions people have thrown out:

I don’t even know who that guy is.  I do not agree.

Meh?

Um, no.

Maybe too old?  Shadow’s supposed to be late twenties, I think.

Someone else suggested that they go with an unknown, and I’m sort of about that idea.  Give some new swarthy hunky guy a chance, for Pete’s sake.  The book says Shadow has an olive complexion or darker, and that he is a BIG dude.  Surely there are some aspiring actors out there who fit the bill and can act.  So, on to the other characters.

Wednesday

The All-Father.  Shadow’s boss.  Here are some of the actors fans have been throwing out there.

Not a bad idea, actually.

 

A good idea as well.

Right nationality.  Just not old enough.  Some other people have suggested Anthony Hopkins, but I think that Rip Torn would actually be perfecto.

Laura

Laura was Shadow’s wife, and she gets killed early in the story.  That doesn’t mean, however, that we don’t see her again.  The suggestions for this have been half-cocked, at best.  Most have suggested actors who are way too old for the role.  They’ve suggested Julianne Moore, Jennifer Connelly, etc.  I think whats-her-name would be good in this role:

OR

They both look the part to me.  Also Anne Hathaway would be OK.

Sam Black Crow

For Sam Black Crow, the girl that Shadow meets in his travels, I suggest either the girl from A Knight’s Tale:

Or the werewolf girl from the Twilight movies:

She’s supposed to be half Native American, and real spunky.  She has my favorite quote from the whole book.  I have the long, awesome passage on a t-shirt from NeverWear, which in retrospect wasn’t a great idea because in order for people to read it they have to stare at your chest for a REALLY long time.  I printed out the passage and hand it to someone when they ask what my shirt says.  For the quote, go here.

Low Key Lyesmith

He’s supposed to have buzzed red hair and scars around his lips.  Some of the suggestions have been Peter Sarsgaard, Steve Buscemi, and Hugh Jackman (people want to cast that guy in EVERYTHING).  Here are the suggestions I like (some of them my own):

Sorta great, I think, though I’ve only seen him in that Nightmare on Elm Street reboot that I liked in spite of myself.

 

Of course, I am extremely biased.  Because of my enormous crush on Dr. House.

 

Lots of people picked Paul Bettany as a favorite for this role.  I’m not sure how old Low Key is supposed to look – I loaned out my copy of American Gods and can’t look it up right now, but I’d wager he’s supposed to look not as old as Wednesday, and not as young as Shadow.  I don’t know how Bettany fits the bill, but since I sort of love him, I can’t really veto this idea altogether.

Mad Sweeney

SO, people have suggested every redhead on the planet for this, including Conan O’Brien and ginger hottie Damian Lewis.  Mad Sweeney’s supposed to be, well, mad.  Here are my picks (which agree some some other people’s picks, mind you):

 

Wow, right?  And we miss him as Mad Eye Moody already, don’t we?

 

If we wanted to go a little younger, this guy looks the part, though I don’t remember him from 300 and haven’t seen his movies.  He has, like, fifty (OK, 8) movies coming out in the next couple of years.  Would he be good?

 

He would also be a good Low Key.  Tough decisions.  Also, Seth Rogen could be Mad Sweeney, if we wanted him to be a manchild.

Czernobog

OK.  This guy is supposed to be powerfully built, low to the ground, and old.  Some suggestions I like, but they aren’t short dudes:

 

Old, check.  Awesome, check.

 

Old?  No.  But I’m thinking he might do a good job.

There are other characters, though the speculation is that they will skip the whole Hinzelmann/Chad, etc storyline for time.  That would be a shame, because Nathan Fillion would rock as the policeman.

Mr. Nancy

People have tried to put every aging black actor into Mr. Nancy’s fancy shoes, and I’ve got to say that Morgan Freeman doesn’t work, nor does Danny Glover.  Here are the suggestions I’ve liked:

 

maybe….

 

Would be GREAT!  We already know he can sing and dance, too!

 

Fantastic.

 

What are your thoughts, if you have any, on this?  Will the Linda Hamilton fan clubbers have anything to say about this post, or will it merely make them yawn?  Stay tuned to find out.