Ian McShane cast in American Gods TV show

American Gods just got a little more interesting: the TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s book has added Ian McShane to the cast. This follows the announcement of The 100‘s Ricky Whittle as the series’ lead.

Who’ll McShane be playing? Why, Mr. Wednesday of course; the elderly, wise and thoroughly creepy mentor to Shadow (Whittle), a god forgotten by the ages and ravenous to come to power once more. The TV show is being adapted from Gaiman’s novel by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, and the announcement itself came from a tweet by Fuller:

GODDAMN, WE GOT McSHANE! #WonderfulWednesday @AmericanGodsSTZ @andmichaelgreen @DAVID_A_SLADE @neilhimself pic.twitter.com/dY4Q43s88a

— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) March 2, 2016

Gaiman himself also wrote a statement about the matter:

‘When you write a beloved character like Mr. Wednesday, you get to watch the Internet trying to cast the role… I’ve seen a hudred names suggested, but few make me grin like Ian McShane does… Yesterday was Super Tuesday. Today is Wonderful Wednesday.’

American Gods begins shooting in April, and will debut on Starz.