or


[03/02/16 - 02:46 PM]
Ian McShane Cast as Mr. Wednesday in Starz and Fremantlemedia's "American Gods"
Playing Mr. Wednesday, McShane joins Ricky Whittle, who was recently announced to play Shadow Moon in "American Gods."

[via press release from Starz]

IAN MCSHANE CAST AS MR. WEDNESDAY IN STARZ AND FREMANTLEMEDIA'S "AMERICAN GODS"

The Golden Globe-winning Actor Will Play Mr. Wednesday in the Adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Blockbuster Fantasy Novel

Bryan Fuller and Michael Green Serve as Showrunners

Beverly Hills, Calif. (March 2, 2016) - Starz and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) announced today that Ian McShane ("Deadwood," "Ray Donovan") has been cast as Mr. Wednesday in the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman's acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, American Gods. The series will begin shooting in April.

Neil Gaiman said, "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."

Commented Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, "Actor. Icon. And now god. It is a goddamn delight to be collaborating with the incomparable Ian McShane -- again and for the first time -- on a story about faith and belief, with the utmost faith and belief in Mr. McShane as our Mr. Wednesday. A wonderful Wednesday indeed."

Playing Mr. Wednesday, McShane joins Ricky Whittle, who was recently announced to play Shadow Moon in "American Gods." Mr. Wednesday is a crafty and endlessly charismatic con man, full of perverse wisdom, curious magic, and grand plans. He hires ex-con Shadow Moon 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.

Acclaimed British actor McShane catapulted to American TV stardom by playing the ruthless frontier kingpin Al Swearengen on "Deadwood," for which he was nominated for both Emmy and SAG Awards and won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama and the Television Critics Award for Individual Performance. He also starred in Starz' "The Pillars of the Earth," for which he received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Mini Series. Across film, he is best known for his portrayal as 'Blackbeard" in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and as "Teddy Bass" Sexy Beast. Other television appearances have included "Ray Donovan," "American Horror Story," ""The West Wing" and "Lovejoy." This year he will appear in "Game of Thrones" and "Dr. Thorne" and can be seen in the upcoming films John Wick: Chapter 2, The Hollow Point and Bolden. McShane is also an accomplished and award-winning stage actor appearing in productions on Broadway, in the West End and Los Angeles throughout his career.

American Gods been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society's modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs.

"American Gods" is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Bryan Fuller ("Hannibal," "Pushing Daisies," "Heroes") and Michael Green ("The River," "Kings," "Heroes") are writers and showrunners. David Slade ("Hannibal," "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse") is directing the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA's Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk are executive producing the series along with Fuller, Green, Slade and Neil Gaiman. Senior Vice Presidents of Original Programming Marta Fernandez and Ken Segna are the Starz executives in charge of "American Gods." Starz retains all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. FremantleMedia is distributing the series worldwide.

Ian McShane is represented by ICM Partners, Gallant Management, Independent Talent Group and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.

Fans can tweet @AmericanGodsSTZ, @STARZ_Channel and @FMNATV and join the conversation with #AmericanGods.

About Starz

Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com. Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R) pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of December 31, 2015, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 55.8 million subscribers, including 23.6 million at STARZ, and 32.2 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ(R) and ENCORE(R), along with Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX(R), air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. arm of global media giant FremantleMedia, which includes a distribution arm, FremantleMedia International, a digital and branded entertainment division and a kids & family entertainment business. As one of the world's largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of TV brands in the world, FremantleMedia's comprehensive global network has operations in 29 countries, creating over 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 45 formats and managing over 350 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. FMNA and its portfolio of companies, including Original Productions and 495 Productions, produce entertaining and innovative scripted and alternative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms. Their slate includes a diverse range of both critically-acclaimed and award-winning successes including "American Idol" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Family Feud" (SYN), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), "The Great Christmas Light Fight" (ABC), "Deadliest Catch" (Discovery), "Married to Medicine" (Bravo), "Party Down South" (CMT), "Ice Road Truckers" (HISTORY), "Storage Wars" (A&E), "Celebrity Family Feud" (ABC), "Celebrity Name Game" (SYN), "Hollyweed" (Independent) and "American Gods" (STARZ), among others.





  [march 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN GODS (STARZ)





[07/23/25 - 01:52 PM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: Chicago Cubs Visit St. Louis Cardinals as Historic Rivalry Continues August 10
"Sunday Night Baseball" on ESPN is averaging 1.71 million viewers in 2025, making it the most-watched season of the franchise in eight years, since 2017, according to Nielsen.

[07/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Brandy Norwood Joins Lifetime Holiday Family with Real Life Daughter Sy'Rai in "Christmas Everyday"
Norwood portrays Francine "Fancy" Ballantine, a devoted fashion designer juggling family obligations and career ambitions.

[07/23/25 - 11:33 AM]
Video: Trailer and Key Art Debut - "Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa"
The special premieres Friday, August 8 on Hulu.

[07/23/25 - 11:15 AM]
Apple's Sports Comedy "Stick" Tees Off for Season Two with Owen Wilson
"I think we all had a great time making it," said star and executive producer Owen Wilson. "It's really nice to see the show connecting with people and to know that we get a chance to continue the story!"

[07/23/25 - 11:02 AM]
Video: "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
Join NFL MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills for the new season, premiering August 5 on HBO Max.

[07/23/25 - 10:46 AM]
Paramount Global and Park County Extend Overall Deal
The deal with "South Park" co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone is for five years, including 50 new episodes, all 26 previous season episodes and extending "South Park" on Comedy Central and Paramount+ around the world.

[07/23/25 - 10:06 AM]
Bravo's "Top Chef" Heads to the Carolinas for Season 23
Season 23 will be centered in the emerging and diverse culinary hub of Charlotte, North Carolina, with several episodes in Greenville, South Carolina.

[07/23/25 - 10:00 AM]
The CW Network Strikes Multi-Year Agreement with Professional Bull Riders to Broadcast Saturday and Sunday Teams League Events
PBR on The CW kicks off on Saturday, August 9 (6:30-8:00pm ET) and Sunday, August 10 (2:00-4:30pm ET) live from Sunrise, Florida.

[07/23/25 - 09:06 AM]
Apple Original Films Announces New Documentary Feature "Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost"
From Emmy and DGA Award-winning director, producer and son Ben Stiller, the film features the inspiring story of comedy icons Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and is set to premiere in select theaters October 17, and stream on Apple TV+ October 24.

[07/23/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "Expedition X" Premieres Wednesday, August 20 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
In the two-part season premiere airing over two consecutive weeks, Josh Gates and Heather Amaro venture into the haunted ruins of Spike Island, once Ireland's most infamous, brutal prison.

[07/23/25 - 08:04 AM]
Hulu Original Series "Only Murders in the Building" Season Five Premieres Tuesday, September 9
Your favorite crime-solving trio is back for another killer case!

[07/23/25 - 06:46 AM]
Bring on More Torture: Netflix Renews "Wednesday" for Season 3 Ahead of Season 2 Debut
"Wednesday" originally premiered on Netflix on November 23, 2022 and currently holds the record for Netflix's most-popular English language show of all time with 252.1M views in 91 days.

[07/23/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple TV+ Unveils First Look at "The Savant," Starring and Executive Produced by Jessica Chastain
The suspenseful, high-stakes series will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, September 26 followed by new episodes every Friday through November 7.

[07/22/25 - 04:01 PM]
Production of YA Zombie Series "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2 Is Now Underway
Based on the legendary webtoon by Joo Dong-geun, the first season was an international success, amassing over 560M viewing hours within 28 days of its premiere.

[07/22/25 - 03:03 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Adults 18-49, Leading CBS' "After Midnight" and NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in the Demo for the 6th Consecutive Week
"Nightline" posted week-to-week increases in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting a 4-week high in the key Adult news demo.