Neil Gaiman’s American Gods had introduced readers to Mr. Nancy, who was ‘Anansi’ an African trickster god. Gaiman had written a spinoff Anansi Boys which featured Mr. Nancy, and though the book is set to be adapted into a series by Amazon, it won’t be connected to Starz’s American Gods.
As confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, Amazon’s show will be separate from the adaptation of American Gods, which could mean that Orlando Jones won’t be reprising his role for Anansi Boys. Then again, with Jones getting unfairly fired from that show, Amazon could do well to give him back the chance to play the character. After all, he did offer a great performance.
As per Neil Gaiman’s blog, he had been working on the adaptation for a while, and Mr. Nancy was a character he had already created for his own story and ‘borrowed’ for American Gods. After successful work with Good Omens, Amazon is ready to bring more of Gaiman’s works to life; and has greenlit a six-episode limited series adaptation for Anansi Boys.
Gaiman says:
“We are trying to make a new kind of show with Anansi Boys, and to break ground with it to make something that celebrates and rejoices in diversity both in front of and behind the camera… I’m so thrilled it’s happening and that people will be meeting Mr. Nancy, Charlie, and Spider, the Bird Woman and the rest of them.”
No release date has been set for Amazon’s Anansi Boys.
