Entertainment Weekly has brought word that the third season of Starz’ adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel American Gods has expanded its cast with the additions of Machete‘s Danny Trejo, Saturday Night Live alum Julia Sweeney and rapper Wale.
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Trejo, who is best known for his long-working relationship with Robert Rodriguez beginning 1995’s Desperado, is set to portray one of the many forms of the villainous Mr. World, who is primarily played by Crispin Glover (Back to the Future). Dominique Jackson (Pose) was also previously cast to portray another of World’s forms in the upcoming season.
Sweeney has signed on to star as Ann-Marie Hinzelmann, the warm one-woman welcomer for Shadow Moon upon his arrival in Lakeside, Wisconsin, and the owner of a small convenience store, a world-famous fishing lure crafter and the self-appointed mayor of the town. Wale has signed on to portray a silver-tonged Orisha named Chango, an important link to Shadow’s unexplored past.
The upcoming season will also be featuring new guest stars including: Marilyn Manson as Johan Wengren, and Herizen Guardiola as Oshun with Ashley Reyes signing on as a series regular.
American Gods season 3 follows Shadow as he attempts to break away and assert himself as his own man, setting down roots in the idyllic snowy town of Lakeside, Wisconsin, where he’ll uncover a dark secret while exploring questions of his own divinity. Guided on this spiritual journey by the gods of his black ancestors, the Orishas, Shadow must decide exactly who he is—a god seeking veneration or a man in service of the “we.”
Emmy winner Blythe Danner (Huff) will also be making an appearance for a guest-starring role as Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest who has an unresolved romantic history with Ian McShane’s Mr. Wednesday, aka Odin, but the old god must attempt to break her out of a mental asylum in order to earn her assistance for the coming war.
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American Gods stars Ricky Whittle (The 100, Austenland) as Shadow Moon, Ian McShane (Deadwood, Ray Donovan) as Mr. Wednesday, Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, Legend) as Laura Moon, and Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black) as Mad Sweeney. Other cast members include Yetide Badaki (Aquarius, Masters of Sex) as Bilquis, Bruce Langley (Deadly Waters) as Technical Boy, Crispin Glover (Back to the Future) as Mr. World, and Orlando Jones (Madiba, Sleepy Hollow) as Mr. Nancy.
The series is adapted from Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel. Gaiman serves as an executive producer on the series, which is produced by FremantleMedia. The Walking Dead alum Charles “Chic” Eglee was brought on board as showrunner for the third season.
(Photo Credit: Backgrid Images)
