Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s (Good Omen, The Sandman) Anansi Boys has added an EGOT to the cast. Deadline confirms Whoopi Goldberg (Everybody Hates Chris, Star Trek: Picard) will appear in the limited series as Bird Woman. Amazon Studios also revealed character descriptions for five additional cast members. They all join Malachi Kirby (Roots, Devils) and Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods, Marvel’s Blade) in lead roles.
Based on Gaiman’s novel rooted in West African mythology, Anansi Boys follows the fantastical journey of two twins – separated at birth – reconnecting following the death of their father, Mr. Nancy, who represents the trickster god, Anansi. Kirby has been cast in the dual roles of the identical twin brothers while Lindo will play their god-like father.
Goldberg’s Bird Woman, according to Deadline, is ” the embodiment of birds.” She not only represents the beautiful serenity of a swan but the dangerous disposition of a seagull. Given her history with Mr. Nancy, who betrayed her in the past, Bird Woman may be plotting to seek revenge.
“When I first conceived Anansi Boys decades ago, I imagined Whoopi Goldberg as Bird Woman,” Gaiman said via Deadline. “I wasn’t able to meet her until 2018, when she interviewed me with some of the Good Omens team at New York Comic Con. At which point she mentioned that she had just finished listening to Sir Lenny Henry’s reading of Anansi Boys, and that it was one of her favorite books. Sometimes things feel planned and inevitable, and we are incredibly lucky. She’s going to be scary,” Gaiman concluded according to Deadline.
“I have been a fan of this book for a very long time, and when Neil Gaiman told me it was being brought to the screen, I did everything I could to be part of it to help make people aware of Anansi and all his magic,” Goldberg told Deadline. Besides Kirby and Lindo, Goldberg joins previously announced cast that includes Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve), CCH Pounder (NCIS: New Orleans), Jason Watkins (The Crown), Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn (Small Axe), and Grace Saif (13 Reasons Why).
According to Deadline, five additional cast members were announced along with their animal god role descriptions. Don Gilet (The Loch) has been cast as the absent-minded Monkey. Cecilia Noble (The Teacher) is the wise elder, Elephant. Emmanuel Ighodaro (Habit) has been cast as the noble Lion. Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Santana) is Tiger. And Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Road Runner) will play the role of Snake. Each animal god has a well-deserved hatred of Anansi which will play a major role in the series’ narrative.
Amazon Studios produces the series with The Blank Corporation, Red Production company, and Endor Productions.