Dane Cook is the latest to join the eclectic cast of Bryan Fuller and Michael Green’s American Gods.
Deadline reports that Cook has been cast as Robbie in the upcoming Starz series. Cooks’ Robbie is best friends with Ricky Whittle’s (The 100, Hollyoaks) Shadow Moon in the series.
American Gods, based on Neil Gaiman’s critically acclaimed novel, centers on the growing tension between the Old and New Gods of the world. The Old Gods, with their mythological roots, are losing followers to the modern-era New Gods who represent modern obsessions like media, technology, money and drugs. The series tells the story of an ex-con, Shadow Moon (Whittle), turned bodyguard for conman and Old God Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane). They travel the country in search for followers to help fight in the impending war between the Old and New Gods.
As Shadow Moon’s best friend, Cook’s Robbie holds down Moon’s job while Moon is in prison. Robbie also offers company and a shoulder to cry on for Shadow’s wife Laura (Emily Browning), and is married to Laura’s best friend Audrey. Cook joins the all-star cast of Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Gillian Anderson, Yetide Badaki, Bruce Langely, Ian McShane, Pablo Schreiber, Cloris Leachman, Jonathan Tucker, Peter Stormare, Crispin Glover and Orlando Jones.
Cook, mainly known for his stand-up, at first seems like an odd casting choice for a high-profile Starz fantasy drama. Cook’s flawed, loyal Robbie actually may be a good fit for Cook’s bro personality and brand of humor. Robbie is only in a small portion of the novel, but there is no telling as of yet if he will play a bigger part in the series.
Bryan Fuller and Michael Green are writers and showrunners for Starz’s American Gods, with David Slade (Hard Candy) set to direct the pilot and other episodes throughout the season. The series is produced and distributed by FremantleMedia North America, with Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk executive producing the series for FMNA. Fuller, Green, Slade and Neil Gaiman are also executive producers on the series.