Good Omens (TV series)
| Good Omens | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Neil Gaiman |
| Based on | Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman |
| Written by | Neil Gaiman |
| Directed by | Douglas Mackinnon |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network |
|
| Release | 2019 |
Good Omens is a six-part miniseries 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 Anna Maxwell Martin, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Michael McKean, Jack Whitehall and Miranda Richardson.
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][2]
Cast and characters
- David Tennant as Crowley, a demon who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation.[1] Originally called "Crawly", he is the snake who tempted Eve with the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.[3]
- Michael Sheen as Aziraphale, an angel who has lived on Earth as long as Crowley.[1] 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,[4] 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,[5] 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.[2] 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.[6][3]
- 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.[7][3]
- Michael McKean as Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell, the last officer of the once proud witchfinder army.[6]
- 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.[6][3]
- Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy, a part-time medium and courtesan.[7]
- Mireille Enos as War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse[4]
- Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse[4]
- Yusuf Gatewood as Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse[4]
- Reece Shearsmith as William Shakespeare[8]
- 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.[7]
- Ned Dennehy as Hastur, Duke of Hell[7]
- Ariyon Bakare as Ligur, likewise Duke of Hell[7]
- Nicholas Parsons as the voice of God[9]
- Derek Jacobi as the Metatron[10]
- Steve Pemberton and Mark Gatiss as Harmony and Glozier, mysterious book-sellers.[11]
The actors cast to play Adam, the Antichrist, and his circle of friends (referred to as "Them" in the novel) have yet to be announced.[12]
Production
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.[13] 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.[12]
Good Omens is being produced by BBC Studios in collaboration with Narrativia, a production company created by Pratchett before his death and now lead by his daughter Rhianna, and The Blank Corporation.[1] Distribution will be handled by BBC Worldwide.[1]
Principal photography on the series began in September 2017, with Gaiman tweeting a picture of Tennant and Sheen in costume on set.[14] In October 2017, the production was spotted filming in Surrey.[15]
Release
The miniseries is set to be released in 2019 on Amazon Prime followed by a broadcast on BBC Two in the United Kingdom.[4][7]
References
- ^ a b c d e Otterson, Joe (2017-08-14). "Michael Sheen, David Tennant to Star in Neil Gaiman's 'Good Omens' at Amazon". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ^ a b Allen, Ben (2017-12-02). "Jon Hamm joins David Tennant and Michael Sheen in Neil Gaiman's Good Omens". Radio Times. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d Schwartz, Dana (2017-09-18). "'Good Omens:' Everything You Need to Know About Amazon's Neil Gaiman Series". EW.com. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e Pedersen, Erik (2017-10-31). "'Good Omens': Amazon & BBC Two Cast Their Beelzebub & Horsemen Of The Apocalypse". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ^ Lewis, Hillary (October 2, 2017). "Jon Hamm to Play Archangel Gabriel in Neil Gaiman's Amazon Series 'Good Omens'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Anna Maxwell Martin joins Good Omens". www.chortle.co.uk. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f Clarke, Stewart (2017-09-15). "Jack Whitehall, Michael McKean, Miranda Richardson Join Amazon's 'Good Omens'". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ^ Harris, Gerard (2017-11-03). "Reece Shearsmith joins the cast of BBC 2's Good Omens". Tuppence Magazine. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "50 Years Of Just A Minute: An Audience With Nicholas Parsons". British Comedy Guide. 2017-11-22. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ^ Gaiman, Neil (2017-12-15). "@neilhimself at Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
Here is a photograph of the Metatron's trailer. Next to it is a very rumpled showrunner. Next to it is our Metatron, an unrumpled Sir Derek Jacobi. "It's not every day you get to play the Voice of God," he said.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton join BBC Two's Good Omens". BBC Media Centre. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
- ^ a b Robinson, Joanna. "First Good Omens Table Read Reveals Character Looks, Major Casting News, and More". Vanity Fair: HWD. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Cain, Sian (2016-04-15). "Good Omens: Neil Gaiman to adapt Terry Pratchett collaboration for TV". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ Gaiman, Neil (2017-09-18). "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 2017-11-20.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Perryman, Francesca (2017-10-25). "David Tennant and Michael Sheen spotted filming in Surrey". getsurrey. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
External links
- Good Omens at IMDb
- Amazon Video original programming
- BBC Television programmes
- Terry Pratchett
- Neil Gaiman
- British fantasy television series
- Upcoming television series
- 2010s British comedy television series
- 2018 British television programme debuts
- Amazon Studios series
- Television series based on works by Neil Gaiman
- Cultural depictions of William Shakespeare