Super Channel acquires American Gods from FremantleMedia International

Season one of the critically acclaimed television series based on the award-winning fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, to premiere in Spring 2018

EDMONTON, Oct. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Super Channel is pleased to announce that it has acquired the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights to the critically acclaimed television series, American Gods, from FremantleMedia International. The eight-episode first season, produced by FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) and adapted from Neil Gaiman's bestselling contemporary fantasy novel, will premiere in Spring 2018 and also be available to subscribers on Super Channel On Demand.

"We are so excited to bring American Gods to Super Channel," said Melissa Kajpust, Director of Programming, International Distributors and Canadian Pre-Sales. "We believe that traditional Canadian pay-tv audiences are hungry to see this ground-breaking series which has garnered critical acclaim around the world. The series not only perfectly complements our current line-up of buzz-worthy programs like Get Shorty, Harlots, Power and Homeland, but is exactly the type of high-caliber, pay-tv worthy series that will attract new subscribers to our service."

"American Gods is a truly unique drama," said Michela Di Mondo, SVP of Sales and Distribution for FremantleMedia International in Canada. "With a fantastic ensemble cast, the best behind camera talent and a compelling storyline. We look forward to launching the series in Canada with the team at Super Channel."

The first season, which was partially filmed in Toronto, was a hit with both audiences and critics alike, garnering an overall rating of 8.6 on IMDb and a top critics score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The series has been renewed for a second season by Starz in the US.

Adapted from the award-winning novel of the same title, American Gods follows the story of 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. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and travelling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older Gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.

The cast of American Gods includes Ricky Whittle (The 100, Austenland) as Shadow Moon; Ian McShane (Deadwood, Ray Donovan) as Mr. Wednesday; Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, Legend) as Laura Moon; Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black) as Mad Sweeney; Yetide Badaki (Aquarius, Masters of Sex) as Bilquis; Bruce Langley (Deadly Waters) as Technical Boy; Crispin Glover (Back to the Future) as Mr. World; Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom) as Low Key Lyesmith; Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, The Fall) as Media; Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies, Wicked) as Easter; Cloris Leachman (Malcom in The Middle, Raising Hope) as Zorya Vechernyaya; Peter Stormare (Fargo, Prison Break) as Czernobog; Omid Abtahi (Damien, Sleeper Cell) as Salim; Orlando Jones (Madiba, Sleepy Hollow) as Mr. Nancy; Chris Obi (Snow White and the Huntsman, The Counselor) as Anubis; Demore Barnes (12 Monkeys) as Mr. Ibis; Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law) as Vulcan and Mousa Kraish (Superbad, Fast & Furious) as The Jinn.

American Gods is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, Heroes) and Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049, Alien: Covenant, Murder on the Orient Express, Kings, Heroes) are writers and showrunners. David Slade (Hannibal, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) directed the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA's Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk are executive producers along with Fuller, Green, Slade, Adam Kane and Neil Gaiman.

Written by Neil Gaiman in 2001, "American Gods" has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel.

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