Back in November came the rather surprising announcement that Bryan Fuller and Michael Green had exited Starz’s American Gods, stepping down as showrunners over disagreements with the budget for the second season of the Neil Gaiman adaptation.
Actress Gillian Anderson quickly followed suit, announcing that she wouldn’t be returning as Media following Fuller and Green’s exit, and prompting Starz CEO Chris Albrecht to admit that the network was having “trouble” getting a second season underway.
Well, it seems things may now be getting back on track, as THR is reporting that Jesse Alexander – who worked with Fuller on the likes of Star Trek: Discovery and Hannibal – has signed on to serve as co-showrunner alongside author Neil Gaiman.
“I’m thrilled that Jesse is [the] showrunner,” said Gaiman. “He loves and understands the book, he loves and understands the TV series and he’s dedicated to making future seasons of American Gods as good and as beautiful and as unique as they can be. Shadow’s journey is going to take him, and Mr. Wednesday, and the New Gods and the Old, to some very strange places. I’m glad that we, and the cast and crew, will have Jesse shepherding us on the way.”
At this point, it is thought that Starz will toss out the six season two scripts penned by Fuller and Green and start afresh, as well as potentially trimming the planned ten episode count in order to bring down the budget, which is a reported $9 million per episode.
