Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn and Grace Saif have joined the cast of Amazon’s limited-series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The actors are the latest additions to a cast that already includes Delroy Lindo (The Cider House Rules, Da 5 Bloods) and Malachi Kirby (Roots, Black Mirror).
Gaiman’s 2005 fantasy novel, a sequel to American Gods, tells the story of Charlie, a man who is visited by a brother he never knew he had after their father, a god in human form, dies. A critic for Kirkus called it “intermittently lumpy and self-indulgent, but enormously entertaining throughout.”
St. Aubyn, known for her role in the film Lovers Rock, will play Rosie, Charlie’s fiancée, while 13 Reasons Why actor Saif will portray the detective Daisy.
Gaiman and Lenny Harry are writing the series; Hanelle M. Culpepper (Star Trek: Discovery) has been tapped as director of the first episode. Gaiman also serves as an executive producer of the show.
“When you are casting something on the scale of Anansi Boys, you need female leads who are as accomplished, charming, and brilliant as, well, Malachi Kirby in both his incarnations,” Gaiman told the Reporter. “Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn and Grace Saif are those women. [They’re] both funny, honest, brilliant actresses, and you will fall in love with both of them.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
