Amazon announces television adaptation of Neil Gaiman's ANANSI BOYS

Amazon has announced they are working on a television adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 2005 novel Anansi Boys and have already greenlit the novel to series. The book, set in the same world as his 2001 novel American Gods, revolves around the apparent death of Mr. Nancy, in reality the trickster god Anansi, and the confused discovery by one of his sons of his true heritage.

Production of the series will overlap with the second season of Good Omens, with Gaiman co-writing and co-producing both projects whilst continuing to work on Netflix's Sandman TV series. Gaiman is also a producer on Showtime's prospective Gormenghast TV series.

The new TV show will have no relationship with the American Gods TV series, which aired on Starz for three seasons before being cancelled. Neither Starz nor the production company Fremantle are involved in this new take, and Orlando Jones, who played the role of Anansi on American Gods before being controversially fired, will not reprise his role for the new series.

Writer, comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry, who co-produced the 1996 TV series Neverwhere with Neil Gaiman and who inspired Gaiman to write the novel of Anansi Boys, will write and produce for American Gods, though it is not yet confirmed if he will star in the show. Henry also has a recurring role on Amazon's forthcoming Lord of the Rings prequel series.

Anansi Boys will also be written by Arvind Ethan David, Kara Smith and Racheal Ofori, whilst Hanelle M. Culpepper will direct the first episode. Jermain Julien and Azhur Saleem will also direct. The six-episode limited series will start shooting before the end of this year to air in late 2022 or early 2023.