Amazon Prime Video’s second project from esteemed author Neil Gaiman (Good Omens, The Sandman) has rounded out its cast. According to Deadline, Fiona Shaw, CCH Pounder, and Jason Watkins have joined the TV adaptation of Anansi Boys. The series is the second from Gaiman’s overall deal with Amazon Studios.
“The sheer amount of acting talent on Anansi Boys is such that I keep pinching myself to make certain I’m not dreaming it,” Gaiman said via Deadline. “I can’t wait until the world sees what we’re making.”
Deadline reports the newly casted trio joins previously announced lead, Malachi Kirby (Devils), who will play dual roles as long-lost twin brothers who discover each other exist following the death of their father. Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods) is set to play the siblings’ patriarch. The cast also includes Joy Richardson (Small Axe), Lachele Carl (Doctor Who), L. Scott Caldwell (Lost), Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn (Small Axe), and Grace Saif (13 Reasons Why).
Pounder, who is known for such roles on CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans and in the film Avatar, is set to play Mrs. Higgler, via Deadline. Higgler is an old friend of Kirby’s Charlie Nancy. Shaw, who can be seen in the final season of BBC and AMC’s Killing Eve, is set to portray Maeve Livingstone. Watkins will play Graham Coats. He is best known for his role as Prime Minister Harold Wilson in Netflix’s award-winning saga, The Crown.
Gaiman will serve as co-showrunner along with Douglas Mackinnon (The Flying Scotsman), according to Deadline. The two will also executive produce with Hilary Bevan Jones (Gwen), Richard Fee (Stay Close), and Lenny Henry (The Witcher: Blood Origin). Henry and Gaiman serve as head writers with Hanelle M. Culpepper (The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey) directing the pilot.
According to Deadline, the series is currently filming in Scotland along with Gaiman’s first series at the streamer, Good Omens. Separate from the projects at Amazon, Gaiman has an adaptation of his graphic comic, The Sandman, set at Netflix.