Anansi Boys (TV series)

Anansi Boys is an upcoming British fantasy miniseries created by Neil Gaiman based on Gaiman's novel of the same name, which follows the two sons of the spider-god Anansi.^[1] The series is set to be released on Amazon Prime Video.

Anansi Boys
Promotional poster
Created by	Neil Gaiman
Based on	Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Written by	Neil Gaiman Lenny Henry Arvind Ethan David Kara Smith Racheal Ofori
Starring	Malachi Kirby Delroy Lindo Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn Grace Saif
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producers	Neil Gaiman Douglas Mackinnon Lenny Henry Hanelle Culpepper Hilary Bevan Jones Richard Fee
Cinematography	John Lee
Production companies	Amazon Studios Endor Productions The Blank Corporation Red Production Company
Original release
Network	Prime Video

Cast

• Malachi Kirby as Charlie Nancy / Spider
• Delroy Lindo as Mr. Nancy
• Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn as Rosie Noah
• Grace Saif as Daisy Day
• CCH Pounder as Mrs. Higgler
• Fiona Shaw as Maeve Livingstone
• Jason Watkins as Grahame Coats
• L. Scott Caldwell as Mrs. Dunwiddy
• Joy Richardson as Mrs. Bustamonte
• Lachele Carl as Miss Noles
• Whoopi Goldberg as Bird Woman
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Tiger
• Emmanuel Ighodaro as Lion
• Cecilia Noble as Elephant
• Ayanna Witter-Johnson as Snake
• Don Gilet as Monkey
• Yvonne Mai as Kayla

Episodes

The first and sixth episodes are written by Gaiman.^[1]

Production

Development

In 2014, it was reported a BBC television miniseries of Anansi Boys was in the works.^[2] It would be made by Red Production Company with Gaiman as executive producer.^[3][4][5][6] The project did not come into fruition, and elements of it were instead incorporated into the Starz adaptation of American Gods.

In May 2020, it was reported that a miniseries adaptation was in development by Endor Productions for Amazon Prime Video.^[7] It is a standalone story and not a spin off of American Gods.^[8] In July 2021, it was announced Amazon had given the production a series order of 6 episodes. Amazon Studios, The Black Corporation, and Endor Productions are attached to the project; Red Production Company has on stayed to co-produce as well.^[9]

Gaiman is the series' showrunner and executive producer. Douglas Mackinnon previously served as co-showrunner, but left the project in November 2022.^[10] Gaiman is writing the series with Lenny Henry from the audio book, who is also executive producing. Arvind Ethan David, Kara Smith, and Racheal Ofori complete the writers' room.^[8] Other executive producers include Hanelle Culpepper, Hilary Bevan Jones of Endor, and Richard Fee of Red.^[11]

Casting

The same month as the greenlight, it was revealed Delroy Lindo would star as Mr. Nancy.^[12] In September, it was announced Malachi Kirby would star as both of Mr. Nancy's sons, Fat Charlie and Spider.^[11] Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn and Grace Saif were cast as the female leads Rosie Noah and Daisy Day respectively, as revealed in December.^[13]

Casting additions in March 2022 saw Fiona Shaw, CCH Pounder, Jason Watkins, L. Scott Caldwell, Joy Richardson, and Lachele Carl round out the cast.^[14] In April 2022, it was announced Whoopi Goldberg, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Emmanuel Ighodaro, Cecilia Noble, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Don Gilet had also joined the cast.^[15]

Filming

Principal photography began on 18 November 2021 at First Stage Studios in Leith.^[16] The production received support from Screen Scotland.^[8] In June 2022, Gaiman shared an update on Twitter, confirming principal photography had wrapped at the end of May and informing fans that post-production would take time.^[17]

References

1. "Anansi Boys". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
2. "BBC to adapt Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys". BBC News. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
3. Denham, Jess (5 February 2014). "Two Neil Gaiman novels set for TV adaptation". The Independent. from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
4. White, Peter (5 February 2014). "Anansi Boys developed by BBC". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
5. Vincent, Alice (4 February 2014). "Neil Gaiman's American Gods to become TV drama". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
6. Fleming, Ryan (4 February 2014). "Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Anansi Boys both being adapted for TV". Digital Trends. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
7. Kaya, Emre (15 May 2020). "Exclusive: 'Anansi Boys' Miniseries in the Works at Amazon". The Cinema Spot. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
8. "Anansi Boys: New Amazon Prime series to be filmed in Scotland". BBC News. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
9. White, Peter (21 July 2021). "Neil Gaiman Scores Series Order For TV Adaptation Of 'Anansi Boys' At Amazon". Deadline Hollywood.
10. Andreeva, Nellie (26 October 2023). "'Anansi Boys': Douglas Mackinnon No Longer Co-Showrunner Of Amazon Series". Deadline. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
11. Yossman, K.J. (14 September 2021). "Amazon U.K. Greenlights Louis Theroux Documentary & Wilderness Adaptation, Unveils Malachi Kirby as Lead in Anansi Boys". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
12. White, Peter (28 July 2021). "Delroy Lindo To Star In Amazon's Anansi Boys". Deadline Hollywood.
13. Ritman, Alex (14 December 2021). "Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys Series Casts Small Axe, 13 Reasons Why Stars as Female Leads (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
14. Ravindran, Manori (16 March 2022). "Amazon's Anansi Boys Adds Fiona Shaw, CCH Pounder, Jason Watkins to Cast". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
15. Petski, Denise (7 April 2022). "'Anansi Boys': Whoopi Goldberg To Play Bird Woman In Neil Gaiman's Series Adaptation For Prime Video". Deadline Hollywood.
16. Daniels, Nia (18 November 2021). "Amazon's Anansi Boys begins filming in Scotland". KFTV. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
17. Fletcher, Alex (24 June 2022). "Anansi Boys: When is the Neil Gaiman series released? Who are the cast? Everything you need to know about the adaptation". BT. Retrieved 16 July 2022.

External links

• Anansi Boys at IMDb