Good Omens (TV series)

Good Omens
Created by Neil Gaiman
Based on
Written by Neil Gaiman
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon
Starring
Narrated by Frances McDormand
Music by David Arnold
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Neil Gaiman
  • Caroline Skinner
  • Chris Sussman
  • Rob Wilkins
  • Rod Brown
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s)
Release
Original network

Good Omens is an upcoming six-part television serial based on the 1990 novel Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. The series will be directed by Douglas Mackinnon and written by Gaiman, who will also serve as showrunner. It is produced by BBC Studios, Narrativia (the production company created by Pratchett before his death and now led by his daughter Rhianna) and The Blank Corporation and is set to be released in 2019 on Amazon Prime. A conventional broadcast on BBC Two will follow the release on Amazon Prime.

The series will star David Tennant as the demon Crowley and Michael Sheen as the angel Aziraphale trying to prevent the Apocalypse. Other actors include Jon Hamm, Anna Maxwell Martin, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Michael McKean, Jack Whitehall, Miranda Richardson and Nick Offerman.

Plot

The series is adapted from the 1990 novel Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman with the screenplay written by Gaiman based on the novel. Set in 2018, the series will follow the demon Crowley (Tennant) and the angel Aziraphale (Sheen), who, being accustomed to life on Earth, seek to prevent the coming of the antichrist and with it the final battle between Heaven and Hell.[1]

Cast and characters

  • David Tennant as Crowley, a demon who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation. Originally called "Crawly", he is the snake who tempted Eve with the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.[2]
  • Michael Sheen as Aziraphale, an angel who has lived on Earth as long as Crowley. In the original novel, Aziraphale was the angel tasked with guarding the eastern gates of paradise. He and Crowley serve as representatives of Heaven and Hell respectively on Earth.
  • Anna Maxwell Martin as Beelzebub, the leader of the forces of Hell. Beelzebub only played a very minor role in the original novel but is assumed to play a larger role in the TV series.
  • Jon Hamm as Archangel Gabriel, the leader of the forces of Heaven. While Gabriel was only mentioned once in the original novel, his role was meant to be expanded in the never-finished sequel to Good Omens, so Gaiman incorporated parts of the plot of the planned sequel regarding the role of the angels into the TV series' plot.[1] In the novel, the leader of the forces of Heaven was the Metatron.
  • Josie Lawrence as Agnes Nutter, a witch living in the 17th century who predicted the events in her book The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the only accurate book of prophecies ever written.
  • Adria Arjona as Anathema Device, Agnes Nutter's last descendant and a witch herself who teams up with Aziraphale and Crowley to stop the end of the world.
  • Michael McKean as Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell, the last officer of the once proud witchfinder army.
  • Jack Whitehall as Newton Pulsifer, a descendant of the witchfinder who burned Agnes Nutter at the stake and who teams up with Anathema to help stop the end of the world.[2]
  • Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy, a part-time medium and courtesan.
  • Mireille Enos as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
  • Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
  • Yusuf Gatewood as Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
  • TBA as Death, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
  • Reece Shearsmith as William Shakespeare
  • Nina Sosanya as Sister Loquacious, one of the nuns of the Chattering Order of St. Beryl, a satanic order of nuns who were tasked with switching a baby with the Antichrist.
  • Ned Dennehy as Hastur, Duke of Hell
  • Ariyon Bakare as Ligur, likewise Duke of Hell
  • Frances McDormand as the voice of God
  • Derek Jacobi as the Metatron
  • Steve Pemberton and Mark Gatiss as Harmony and Glozier, mysterious book-sellers.
  • Nick Offerman as the U.S. Ambassador and father of the child Warlock.
  • Sam Taylor Buck as Adam Young, the reluctant Antichrist
  • Amma Ris as Pepper, part of the group of Adam's friends
  • Ilan Galkoff as Brian, part of the group of Adam's friends
  • Alfie Taylor as Wensleydale, part of the group of Adam's friends
  • Daniel Mays as Arthur Young, Adam's father
  • Sian Brooke as Deidre Young, Adam's mother

Production

Development

Pratchett and Gaiman had planned to adapt Good Omens as a movie for years, with various directors and writers attached to the project at various times. In 2011, a television series, written by Terry Jones and Gavin Scott, was first reported to be in the works but no further plans were announced.[3] After Pratchett's death, Gaiman refused to ever consider working on the adaptation alone but changed his mind when he received a letter from Pratchett, written to be sent after his death, urging him to finish the project.[4]

On January 19, 2017, it was announced that Amazon Video had given a green-light to a television adaptation of the novel Good Omens. Executive producers were announced to include Neil Gaiman, Caroline Skinner, Chris Sussman, Rob Wilkins, and Rod Brown. Gaiman will adapt the novel for the screen and serve as showrunner.[5] The series is being produced by BBC Studios in collaboration with Narrativia, a production company created by Pratchett before his death and now led by his daughter Rhianna, and The Blank Corporation. Distribution will be handled by BBC Worldwide.

Casting

Sheen as Aziraphale and Tennant as Crowley while filming.

On August 14, 2017, it was announced that Michael Sheen and David Tennant had been cast in the lead roles of Aziraphale and Crowley, respectively.[6] On September 14, 2017, Gaiman revealed on Twitter that Nina Sosanya, Ned Dennehy, and Ariyon Bakare had joined the main cast.[7] A day later, Jack Whitehall, Michael McKean, Miranda Richardson, and Adria Arjona were announced as series regulars.[8] A week after that, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Ilan Galkoff, Alfie Taylor, Daniel Mays, and Sian Brooke were also cast.[9] In October 2017, it was reported that Jon Hamm, Anna Maxwell Martin, Mireille Enos, Lourdes Faberes, and Yusuf Gatewood had joined the main cast.[10][11] In November 2017, it was reported that Reece Shearsmith and Nicholas Parsons had also been cast.[12][13] On December 15, 2017 it was reported that Derek Jacobi would voice the Metatron.[14] On February 9, 2018 it was announced that Steve Pemberton and Mark Gatiss had joined the series.[15] On March 6, 2018, it was announced that Nick Offerman had been cast in a series regular role.[16] On July 20, 2018, it was announced during Amazon's San Diego Comic-Con panel that Frances McDormand had been cast as the voice of God as well as the series' narrator.[17]

Filming

Principal photography on the series began in September 2017, with Gaiman tweeting a picture of Tennant and Sheen in costume on set.[18] In October 2017, the production was spotted filming in Surrey.[19]

Marketing

Good Omens interview at New York Comic Con in October 2018. Front: Richardson, Gaiman, and Tennant. Rear: Sheen, Hamm, and Mackinnon

On October 6, 2018, the series held a panel at the annual New York Comic Con in New York City. The panel was moderated by Whoopi Goldberg and featured creator Neil Gaiman, director Douglas Mackinnon, and cast members Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Jon Hamm, and Miranda Richardson. During the panel, the first trailer for the series was premiered and subsequently released online.[20][21]

References

  1. 1 2 Allen, Ben (December 2, 2017). "Jon Hamm joins David Tennant and Michael Sheen in Neil Gaiman's Good Omens". Radio Times. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Schwartz, Dana (September 18, 2017). "'Good Omens:' Everything You Need to Know About Amazon's Neil Gaiman Series". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ Cain, Sian (April 15, 2016). "Good Omens: Neil Gaiman to adapt Terry Pratchett collaboration for TV". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ Robinson, Joanna. "First Good Omens Table Read Reveals Character Looks, Major Casting News, and More". Vanity Fair: HWD. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  5. ↑ Petski, Denise (January 19, 2017). "Amazon Greenlights Neil Gaiman's 'Good Omens' As Limited Series". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  6. ↑ Otterson, Joe (August 14, 2017). "Michael Sheen, David Tennant to Star in Neil Gaiman's 'Good Omens' at Amazon". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  7. ↑ Caron, Nathalie (September 14, 2017). "The Gifted casts mutant Shatter, Good Omens adds Emerald City alum". Syfy. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  8. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (September 15, 2017). "'Good Omens': Jack Whitehall, Michael McKean, Miranda Richardson & Adria Arjona Join Amazon Series". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  9. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (September 22, 2017). "Tom Courtenay To Make 'Grandpa's Great Escape'; 'Good Omens' Adds Cast; Deutsche Telekom Gets 'Germanized' – Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (October 2, 2018). "Jon Hamm to Play Archangel Gabriel in Neil Gaiman's Amazon Series 'Good Omens'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  11. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (October 31, 2017). "'Good Omens': Amazon & BBC Two Cast Their Beelzebub & Horsemen Of The Apocalypse". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ Harris, Gerard (November 3, 2017). "Reece Shearsmith joins the cast of BBC 2's Good Omens". Tuppence Magazine. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Together at last: Sue Perkins and Kenneth Williams: News 2017: Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide". Chortle. November 22, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. ↑ Roker, Sarah (December 15, 2017). "Derek Jacobi will play the Voice of God in Good Omens TV series". Digital Spy. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton join BBC Two's Good Omens". BBC Media Centre. February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ Clarke, Stewart (March 6, 2018). "'Parks and Recreation' Star Nick Offerman Joins Amazon's 'Good Omens'". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  17. ↑ Patten, Dominic (July 20, 2018). "Frances McDormand Joins Amazon's 'Good Omens' As God, Neil Gaiman Says – Comic-Con". Deadline. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  18. ↑ Gaiman, Neil (September 18, 2017). "They are amazing. This is them in the opening scenes, 11 years ago, in St James's Park. David and Michael, demon & angel. #GoodOmenspic". Twitter. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  19. ↑ Perryman, Francesca (October 25, 2017). "David Tennant and Michael Sheen spotted filming in Surrey". getsurrey. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  20. ↑ Roffman, Marisa (October 6, 2018). "'Good Omens' Team Reveals Teaser, Discusses Show's "Fully Formed Brilliance"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  21. ↑ Patten, Dominic (October 6, 2018). "'Good Omens' Blesses NY Comic Con With 1st Teaser Trailer At MSG Panel". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
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