One thing missing from the otherwise exciting news about Neil Gaiman's novel Anansi Boys becoming a TV series was any casting information. We have our first name, and it's a great one – Delroy Lindo will play Mr. Nancy.
The story follows Charlie Nancy, a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father. But when his dad (Lindo) dies, Charlie discovers that he was Anansi: trickster god of stories. And he learns that he has a brother. Now that brother, Spider, is entering Charlie’s life, determined to make it more interesting but making it a lot more dangerous...
“Delroy Lindo is a giant of the stage and the screen, and we are so lucky to have him,” Gaiman says. “I cannot wait to see his gravitas and charm being deployed for the benefit of Anansi Boys, as he plays an unreliable father with hidden depths.”
Gaiman is part of the team bringing the book to screens, which also includes his Good Omens cohort Douglas Mackinnon as co-showrunner, Lenny Henry, Arvind Ethan David, Kara Smith and Racheal Ofori on the writing team and Hanelle M. Culpepper leading a cadre of directors that features Jermain Julien and Azhur Saleem.
Our sympathies are, however, with fans of Orlando Jones and his performance as the character in American Gods. With Anansi Boys sharing no television connection to that show, it seems unlikely he'll get to return in any capacity. Unless the TV gods are listening...