The exclusive first pictures have been released from highly anticipated new TV series American Gods, based on Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel.
The TV version will be very similar to the book, with some deviations, including in-depth character explorations. The central premise is that gods exist because people believe in them. But with new obsessions arising in the American consciousness – like technology, celebrities and drugs -- new gods materialise.
Ricky Whittle first heard about the show when a journalist told him fans were campaigning for him to take on the lead role.
Frustrated with his ever-shrinking role as Lincoln on The 100, the British actor decided to give it a go.
Whittle auditioned for the role of Shadow, a convict released from prison early who takes a job as a bodyguard for a mysterious conman called Mr Wednesday. Mr Wednesday is later discovered to be an incarnation of Norse god Odin and is recruiting old gods to fight against the new.
He got the role and worked out a deal with The 100’s network producers -- Warner Bros and CBS -- to leave the show. They watched tapes, noticed Lincoln’s increasing absence and agreed he could go.
According to Whittle, it was loosely decided he would leave at the end of season three. A script was released and Lincoln was to leave the Sky Crew camp with love interest Octavia. But the director caught wind of Whittle’s American Gods role and "got a bee in his bonnet", Whittle says. An amendment was made, and Lincoln was killed.
The character's death didn't go down well with Whittle or his fans.
Afterwards the actor vented his frustrations in an interview with AfterBuzz TV, saying he felt creatively restricted and depressed by the scripts.
But while fans of The 100 may still be mourning Lincoln’s loss, the first pictures of American Gods suggest Ricky Whittle fans won’t be sad for long.
Newshub.