Last week,Sean Harrisdeparted Starz’sAmerican Godsseries based on theNeil Gaimannovel.A statement was issued at the timeciting “personal reasons,” but that left the project without its leprechaun, Mad Sweeney. Don’t worry, the adaptation is still happening. Today, in fact, brings word of his replacement, and it’s Pornstache.
A rep for FremantleMedia confirmed to us thatPablo Schreiber, who plays George Mendez on Netflix’sOrange Is the New Black, will replace Harris as Mad Sweeney. The Canadian-born Schreiber doesn’t physically look the part the way Harris does, but one would presume he made up for it with his acting chops. The character was initially described by Starz as “a down on his luck leprechaun, who is having a hard time understanding how he lost his charm and way. Always up for a good fight, Sweeney is never deprived while in the employment of Mr. Wednesday.”
Bryan FullerandMichael Greenact as showrunners onAmerican Gods, which tells of a war between the old, mythological gods and the new gods of the modern world (e.g. drugs, celebrity, technology). At the center of it is Shadow Moon (played byThe 100’sRicky Whittle), who’s enlisted to be the bodyguard of Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), a mysterious man who turns out to be one of the older deities.
Emily Browningplays Laura Moon,Yetide Badakiplays ancient goddess of love Bilquis,Bruce Langleyplays one of the new gods named Technical Boy,Crispin Gloverplays Mr World,Jonathan Tuckerplays Low Key Lyesmith,Cloris Leachmanplays a guardian sister of the constellations named Zorya Vechernyaya,Peter Stormareplays Slavic god of darkness Czernobog,Chris Obiplays Egyptian god Anubis, andMousa Kraishplays a mythic fire creature called The Jinn. The producers have teased that liberties will be taken with the source material, and that some of these minor characters — especially Laura — will get larger parts.
The Wrapwas the first to report the news of Schreiber’s casting.
