Terry Pratchett would be over the moon in the casting according to his estate, while co-author Neil Gaiman reminds Hollywood to give both equal credit
The late Terry Pratchett would have been over the moon in the dream casting of David Tennant as the demon Crowley in the forthcoming adaptation of Good Omens, according to the Discworld authors long-time assistant Rob Wilkins.
Amazon confirmed that Michael Sheen will play the angel Aziraphale, and Tennant will take on the role of Crowley, in Amazon Studios six-episode adaptation. Co-authored by Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, the 1990 dream bestseller Good Omens informs of Crowley and Aziraphales tries to prevent the apocalypse, following the birth of the antichrist, Adam, in Lower Tadfield, Oxfordshire.
I swear to god, Terry would be absolutely over the moon. Wed already discussed our fantasy Aziraphale and Crowley, and David Tennant was there, Wilkins told the Guardian. I cant begin to tell you what a fan he was of David and Michael Hed be looking down and are incredibly pleased.
Pratchett had particularly enjoyed Tennants role as Doctor Who, Wilkins added. Terry didnt use magic as a get out of jail free card in his writing, and he felt that after David, Doctor Who used the screwdriver to get himself out of trouble. And Terry would groan, as he’d never use magic in the identical way.
Gaiman, who scripted all six episodes of the coming series, which will be co-produced with BBC Studios, wrote on Twitter after learning of the casting: You go down to the bottom of the garden to compose, and leave your phone behind, and then something like this happens.
The novelist, who just agreed to accommodate Good Omens after reading a letter sent posthumously to him by Pratchett giving him his blessing to do so, also reminded Variety that the book had two authors after the magazines headline referred to the publication as Neil Gaimans Good Omens.
Psst. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchetts Good Omens, wrote Gaiman, while Wilkins made the same point: My job as executive producer on #GoodOmens is primarily to remind the world the book had TWO FECKING AUTHORS.
Terry Pratchett (@terryandrob)
My job as Executive Producer on #GoodOmens is primarily to remind the world the book had TWO FECKING AUTHORS @Variety.
Pratchett expired at the age of 66 in 2015, leaving behind him over 70 books. My job is to be sure the world speaks his name thats what Ive always said since Terry died, said Wilkins, adding that he’d recently joined a writers meeting at Narrativia, the independent production company launched by Pratchett five decades back. One of the authors stood up and said that of the authors that are dead there have been, Terry Pratchett is the most alive. For the next hour of the meeting, I was so filled up with those words, and I have kept them.
Wilkins said that Gaimans scripts would make fans content. He has completely blown us away, he said. They are magnificent This is the Good Omens of my fantasies. It is a dream come true when you have six hours to tell the story, using a film budget. And Neil has taken the words on to the display.
Amazon confirmed the casting in a statement, after it was first reported in Variety. In the announcement, Sheen said that Good Omens was one of his favorite stories since he first read it. To be part of the group is a tiny dream come true. To work together with Neil, who I believe is one of the greatest storytellers of all time, is exciting. And, exactly like the rest of the world, Im a huge fan of Davids so I love trying to save it with him, he said.
Tennant called it a dream gig and a fantasy team, including: I am very excited that Ive been asked to be part of this project. Bring on the apocalypse!
Good Omens will air on Amazon Prime in 2019 and will be broadcast on BBC Two at a later date.
