fuckyeahgaiman:

The Home Box Office network has already won our heart and undying love for bringing one of our favorite book series to television, “Game of Thrones,” but today news broke that HBO is in early development stages to bring yet another excellent book, Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods,” to the small screen.

According to Deadline, the project was brought to HBO by Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, with renowned cinematographer Robert Richardson attached to co-write the pilot with Gaiman.

We almost feel that there’s no further reason to elaborate on why this is awesome news, but just in case, MTV Staff Writer Kara Warner and Movies Blog Editor Josh Wigler are here to school you on why an HBO adaptation of “American Gods” could be a truly divine television experience.

 

Qualified ProfessionalsRichardson is the cinematographer behind a slew of very cool and unique films like “Hugo Cabret,” “Kill Bill,” and “Shutter Island.” So even if he’s not manning the camera, he has such great visual sense, we are confident he will do Gaiman’s masterful mythological fantasy justice.

A Platform With a PedigreeDespite the inevitable anxiety fans of the book will have in seeing a beloved property adapted, the sprawling, epic nature of Gaiman’s story is only fit for TV. Plus, with the recent (and soon-to-be) success of book-to-TV adaptions “The Walking Dead” and “Game of Thrones,” fans (and novices) can rest assured that the best possible medium is being utilized in the adaptation process.

Not For KidsAnother similarity to “Walking Dead” and “Game of Thrones,” the tone of “Gods” is a mature one, full of blood, sex and violence. It just isn’t fitting for anything other than a network like HBO, which is known for pushing the envelope with its content — see “True Blood,” “The Wire,” “The Sopranos,” “Oz” and a whole bunch more for further proof of HBO’s bravery in the face of controversy.

Not Messing With The MasterGaiman himself is involved as a co-writer! So just like AMC’s “Walking Dead” does with creator Robert Kirkman, the actual man behind the mythology is deeply involved in the process. That can’t be anything but a good thing.

Fresh Genre/Geek-tastic MeatWhile Gaiman is definitely viewed as a geek god, his work has an element of “cool” that you don’t see in everything else. “American Gods” is set in modern day, with an ex-con as a protagonist. The gritty realism paired with mythological figures (new and old school) is a kick-ass concept, not to mention a great property to tackle for those who might have outgrown the almost-concluded “Harry Potter” and “Twilight” franchises.

A contender for my favorite book as a HBO series? Yes, please.