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Starz worships Fremantle’s Gods

US pay cable network Starz has given a ‘script to series’ development deal to FremantleMedia North America (FMNA)’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s urban fantasy novel American Gods.

Under the deal, if Starz picks up a pilot script – to be written by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (Heroes) – for the project the series will go straight into production with no pilot production stage.

Starz will retain US network pay TV and subscription VoD rights and FremantleMedia will distribute the series worldwide.

Fuller and Green will also serve as showrunners and executive produce with Gaiman and FMNA’s CEO Thom Beers, executive VP Craig Cegielski and senior VP Stefanie Berk.

Rights to the prize-winning 2001 novel – about a war between traditional gods and an upstart pantheon reflecting modern society’s love of money and technology – were acquired by FMNA earlier this year.

The company is currently ramping up its scripted operation and has several other projects in development with US cable and broadcast networks. It is currently in production on scripted cable series The Returned.

Starz MD Carmi Zlotnik described American Gods as “a project that deserves to be made. With our partners at FremantleMedia and with Bryan, Michael and Neil, we believe we can create a series that honours the book and does right by the fans and viewers.”

FMNA’s Beers said the novel “is pure genius and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this classic to life on screen. Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk have put together a dream team with Fuller and Green joining Gaiman on this amazing journey. Coupled with Starz’s shared passion for this project, we’re confident this combination will raise the bar for drama.

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