After news that showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green had parted ways with American Gods, fans were anxious to see how the Starz drama would recover and continue the momentum of its acclaimed first season into the next year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fremantle Media has brought on producer and writer Jesse Alexander to work alongside Neil Gaiman for season 2.
According to THR’s sources, Fuller and Green had already written the first six episodes of season 2, the majority of the plot; season 1 was originally envisioned as 10, but Fuller’s rewrites ultimately cut that number to eight. However, these sources say, Fremantle was planning on scrapping those scripts and starting from scratch with Alexander, who has worked with Fuller on Hannibal and Star Trek: Discovery; he has also served as a co-executive producer on Lost, Alias, and Heroes.
Gaiman, who has an overall deal with Fremantle, told THR how excited he was to work with Alexander: “I’m thrilled that Jesse is [the] showrunner. He loves and understands the book, he loves and understands the TV series and he’s dedicated to making future seasons of American Gods as good and as beautiful and as unique as they can be. Shadow’s journey is going to take him, and Mr. Wednesday, and the New Gods and the Old, to some very strange places. I’m glad that we, and the cast and crew, will have Jesse shepherding us on the way.”
THR’s report also delves into rumors about Fuller and Green clashing with Fremantle over budget concerns, as well as the fact that several established showrunners allegedly turned down the job.
American Gods season 2 is not expected to premiere until early 2019.
