TV Line is reporting that actors Crispin Glover and Jonathan Tucker have joined the cast of “American Gods“.  Based on the popular novel by Neil Gaiman, the epic fantasy tale is being brought to like by Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal“) and Michael Green (Alien: Covenant, Blade Runner 2).  The series is currently in production up in Canada and is expected to premiere on Starz sometime late this year or early next year.

“American Gods” follows the mysterious Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), a man who is released from prison a few days early after serving a three year sentence for bank robbery when his beloved wife Laura (Emily Browning) is killed in a car accident. Flying home for the funeral, Shadow is seated next to a man who introduces himself only as Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), and this man knows more about Shadow’s life, both past and present, than is possible. Shadow comes to learn that Wednesday is, in fact, the god Odin of Norse mythology and that all of the gods that mankind has ever believed in are alive in human form and live among regular people. Shadow is soon thrust into a gathering conflict between the Old gods and the so-called “New gods”, the gods of money and technology who believe there is no longer room on Earth for the old gods.

Crispin Glover (Back to the Future, Willard) will bring to life the “seemingly omniscient” Mr. World, the villainous leader of the New Gods.  The character is also described as “sometimes more challenged by his own subordinates than his enemies.”  If you’re looking to cast an interesting foe for your genre tale, Glover is always an excellent choice.  Kudos to Fuller for actually pinning him down to a series.

Jonathan Tucker (Texas Chainsaw Massacre ’03, The Ruins) will play Low-Key Lyesmith, who is described as being “wiry and fast-talking, with an offbeat sense of humor.”  He will first appear as Shadow’s cellmate and the return throughout our heroes’ journey.  His true identity is revealed later on in the story.  The link above spoils it and I won’t repeat it here, although it’s actually a pretty obvious revelation.

They join a cast already comprised of the aforementioned Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, and Emily Browning.  The series will also boast Sean Harris as the leprechaun Mad Sweeney, Yetide Badaki as Bilquis, and Bruce Langley as The Technical Boy.  The show is produced by Fuller, Gaiman, and Green, as well as Thom Beers, Stefanie Berk, and Craig Cegielski.