Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' TV Show Casts 'The 100' Star Ricky Whittle As Shadow Moon

When it was announced that Neil Gaiman's bestselling novel American Gods would be turned into a TV series, fans immediately wondered who would portray the book's main protagonist Shadow Moon. Now it looks like Starz has found the perfect actor to play the ex-convict turned bodyguard: Ricky Whittle.

According to Comic Book Resources, Whittle has just been cast as Shadow in the TV show that will be produced by Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller. With the lead role finally filled, American Gods is expected to start shooting by April and will possibly air on Starz later this year.

Gaiman was one of the first people to congratulate Whittle for getting the role. The author immediately tweeted about the casting and welcomed the actor to the show.

It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome @MrRickyWhittle to the role of Shadow in @AmericanGodsSTZ. It's just the beginning of the journey.

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 28, 2016

34-year-old Whittle is an English actor who is best known for playing Calvin Valentine in the British soap opera Hollyoaks. In 2009, he competed in the BBC One reality series Strictly Come Dancing but lost to Watchdog presenter Chris Hollins. Whittle has played two characters named Lincoln, in NCIS and the post-apocalyptic TV show The 100.

Starz's #AmericanGods has found its Shadow in #The100's @MrRickyWhittle https://t.co/NKFoHGhmqg @BryanFuller pic.twitter.com/cCAMcYiBrb — Variety (@Variety) January 28, 2016

The novel American Gods was published in 2001 and won the Locus Award for Fantasy Novel in 2002. In the book, Shadow is a newly-released ex-convict who ends up in a plane seated beside a mysterious man who introduces himself as Mr. Wednesday. The stranger offers Shadow a job, which throws him in the middle of an age-old conflict between deities who are fighting for the right to exist in the world.

Although the news of Whittle's casting as Shadow is truly exciting for the series, there is still the matter of finding the perfect Mr. Wednesday. There is still no word on whether casting is ongoing for other main characters like Laura Moon, Sam Black Crow, Mr. Nancy or Low-Key Lyesmith.