I had a revelation. Brian Cox as Wednesday. He is the biggest badass in the world. Exactly the right mix of real person and otherworldly warlord. And as Czernobog it has to be the Russian guy from Snatch. No question. Can't you see it?

Anthony Heald as Hinzelmann, Jennifer Tilly as Easter.

Damn I'm good! Damn!

'Kay...can I have a shot?

I loved the previous suggestions of:

Wednesday = Stacy Keach
Loki = Tim Roth
Czernobog = Robert DeNiro
Mad Sweeney = Robert Carlyle
Mr Ibis - Ben Kingsley
Mr Nancy = Morgan Freeman (although Eddie Murphy has a wonderful trickster laugh)

Also how about:

Easter = Gail O'Grady
Hinzelman = Ian Holm
The youngest Zorya sister = Leelee Sobieski

I think that Russell Crowe would make a great Shadow, although he doesn't really fit the physical description other than being big.

This was my first time on this site...thanks for the fun!

I always thought the cop from Charmed would be cool as Shadow.

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Originally posted by dreamer:
i'd go with rip torn for wednesday, vin diesel for shadow, and ossie davis as mr. nancy.

somehow, i can't imagine natalie portman as lesbian, even if i do think she's a good actress.

what about a dark-haired (like Pump Up the Volume) samantha mathis as sam?

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I like Natalie Portman as Sam, she's how I pictured her, and I think she could play a lesbiam. I love Sam, she was my favorite character in the book.

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Originally posted by Winged_Warrior924:
I think thora Birch or Lee Lee Sobieski as Sam
thing is if you've seen "my first Mister" with Lee Lee you'd die she is so good, as this cynical gothic teen who grows out of her shell as the story goes on and the finished product character is very sam like...anyway Laura needs to be like so beautiful you get scared looking at her. So if people could put up with Shannon Doerity i'd say a weak maybe but she is all i can think of right now...being that im in class

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I love Shannen Doherty but I'm not sure if I could see her as Laura. Hmm... well maybe

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Metalheart:
Samantha Black Crow - Charlize Theron
QUOTE]

Hey, I like that, if she had dark hair.

Just a thought for shadow: Thomas jane from Punisher? Tall, dark, brooding, and sorta stoic.

And i just gotta say it, tho i dont know if he can act, but he is MAD...

Garth Ennis for Mad Sweeney?

I just can't top Vin Diesel as Shadow. C'mon, he's good. I pictured him as Dolarhyde in "Red Dragon."

Seth Green as the technical boy was a good try, but the tech boy is fat and geeky, not cool at all. So I'm thinking Jack Osbourne.

The Rock!!! or Lenny Kravitz!! (for Shadow)
Jack Osborn as technical boy would be great!

Alright, enough with the Diesel.
For Shadow, I pictured this guy I who comes around my coffee shop from time to time. He's half Souix, I think, and Half White. He also spent some time in jail, and he's tall. He's also about the same age as Shadow. But seeing as how none of you know him, it's a mute point.

Anyways, here are the few I came up with. Keep in mind the ages of the Gods themselves and who would be older than who, but Make-up these days . . . Also, AMERICAN gods. That means, they've PROBABLY lost their accents, except in the cases noted like Czernobog, the Zoras, & Nancy.

Laura- Iben Hjejle (she's got the whole attitude of Laura, and could probably look dead very well)

Mr Town- Val Kilmer (he plays an excellant villian)

Wednesday- Tom Waits (He's EXACTLY who I thought of when I was reading it, and he's a surprisingly good actor. He's got the voice down, and he's the right build for him, too.)

Czernobog- Rip Torn (Again, great choice for the movie, but Rip, himself, acts more like Czernobog than any other actor I've seen!)

Zora(s)- Phyllis Diller (doing all 3 roles, with different hair)

Mr. Nancy- Bill Cosby (especially now that he's kinda becoming resentful of the youth these days, plus he's an AMAZING Story teller)

Mr. Ibis- Ben Kingsly (Perfect attitude, charm, personality, the whole deal)

Mr. Jaquel- Samual Jackson (made to look much older)

Bast- Pam Grier (Aged to perfection)

Easter- Bette Midler (she's got that Earth Mother vibe to her at times, and keep in mind that comment she makes about her Thighs)

Mad Sweeney- DENNIS LEARY (I can't BELIEVE people didn't think of him! A Tall, foul mouthed IRISHMAN? Leary ALL the way)

Loki- Gary Oldman (His mouth LOOKS like it's been sewed together a couple times, plus there's no one who does better violent death scenes covered in Blood)

Sam- Anne Hathaway (Just cuz I want to see her do something that's not all goody-two-shoes)

Margarite- Julianne Margolis (Young, Raven haired woman bitter at the world so young)

The Techno Kid- Wayne Night (Ok, so he's older, but can't you just imagine him oozing black stuff and smoking when killed?)

Media- Lisa Ling (I always saw Media as being asian newscaster, don't know why)

Bilquis- Angela Basset (she needs to be in something good these days)

Whiskey Jack- ? (nobody else here's come up with anybody, but I thought I'd bring him up)

John Chapman- Pat Buttram (Alright, alright, he's dead. But still, his voice fit the character so well! *Mr. Haney from Green Acres)

the man in the charcoal colored suit- David Bowie (I know that ____ isn't English, or have any lines written in the book that are heard, so I figure Why not?)

Chad Milligan- Martin Sheen (I don't know why everybody's forgotten about Chad on here, but yeah.)

Hinzelman- Mel Brooks (Although I liked the idea of him being Czernobog, he's the right age to play him, and Looks it too)

Delirium- Tori Amos (if you read it carefully, you pick up her cameo, and I think it would just be a great nod to Neil seeing as how he based her off of Tori)

Alright, that's all I got.

-Stevo

Whiskey Jack: Graham Greene (Northern Exposure, Thunderheart, Mr. Crabby Tree)

It's tough to consider casting for a novel on this scale. I doubt an A-list cast is necessary, and some roles would definitely need to be lessened while others lengthened. Low Key for instance could be used in a couple of flashback sequences, make him seem as if he had a more profound influence on Shadow than the book lets on. As for the actual casting:

SHADOW- James Marsden of "Gossip" and "X-Men" is a quality actor and could easily fit into this friendly and trusting character. Admittedly, Vin Diesel was the image I had while reading but seriously, Vin couldn't pull off this character. Physically of course, but personality-wise, lo siento Vin. Hell, Barry Pepper may even be overdue for a shot as a leading role.
WEDNESDAY- I saw someone drop Kevin Spacey's name, who wouldn't be a terrible choice at all, nor would Anthony Hopkins. Those are the two top choices from my perspective.
LOKI- Tim Roth, I saw that name and immediately had it pictured perfectly. He's a likeable guy but at the same time, has that mischeivous look.
CZERNOBOG- The Russian guy from so many movies, especially from "Armageddon." He's key for this role because he's got that rough Russian way, a sort of cold bastard with leniance. Maybe John Malkovich would actually be suitable for this role as well.
SAM- Another role that needs some expansion, however easily this is Natalie Portman.
MAD SWEENEY- Norman Reedus, no doubt, this is your man for the leprechaun role, which should lengthen ever so slightly. When I say lengthen, I merely mean that they should drop wise advice to Shadow, that adds to Shadow's experiences and helps him grow.
MR. NANCY- Morgan Freeman, suitable enough as the smart black man.
LAURA- Famke Janssen would be probably be good as well.
As for the other characters, they can all be pretty B-List, although it would be great to have some well-knowns as Jaquel and Ibis, but everyone else really doesn't need incredibly well-knowns. Directing, Darren Aronofskey or Christopher Nolan would be prime picks, a smart director is a must, and both these guys have put together some very disturbing and smart flicks. Only a mind like that could possibly take on "American Gods."
Oh yeah, drop vignettes because they weren't all that important and there are only subtle changes that would need to be made regarding character roles decreasing and increasing.

SHADOW - I COULDN'T THINK OF ANY ACTOR WORKING TODAY WHO IS WORTHY OF PLAYING SHADOW. I'D GO FOR AN UNKNOWN ACTOR.

WEDNESDAY - GARY OLDMAN.

SHERIFF OF LAKESIDE - JOHN C REILLY

LAURA - MONICA POTTER

LOKI / MR WORLD - DAVID CARUSO (I KNOW HE SUCKS, BUT WHAT THE HELL)

OH YEAH AND ETHAN SUPLEE AS THE FAT KID.

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Originally posted by DarkMark:
Well, what the heck...how about Sean Connery as Wednesday?

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I could see that, sounds strange but would work. How about for Loki Christopher Lambert, he has come a long way from his highlander days and his acent is just strange, Sean Bean as Mad Sweeny as someone suggested would be cool. For sam, Winona Rider? mind you if i could find a role for my fav actor Jean Reno I would

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Originally posted by chriskilljoy:
Just a thought for shadow: Thomas jane from Punisher? Tall, dark, brooding, and sorta stoic.

And i just gotta say it, tho i dont know if he can act, but he is MAD...

Garth Ennis for Mad Sweeney?

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The guy from the punisher kinda cool, anyone notice he looks a bit like christopher lamber? just younger and buffer

at the helm how about a person with a slightly twisted view of things, generally dark Tim Burton. did wonders for batman. donald sutherland as wednesday can sorta se it. scanning my video collection for ideas here, how about Russel crow as shadow, or Kurt Russel.

Okay, here's my three cents(or more likely at this point five million dollars[insert Dr. Evil laugh here])
Shadow=The Rock
Wednesday=Brian Dhenahe(last name most likely spelled wrong)
Laura=Rachel Weiz(The Mummy)
Loki=Lewis Black
Czernobog=Christopher Walken
Easter=Laura San Giocomo(Just Shoot Me)
Mr. Nancy=Dave Chapel(with ageing make up and as with Dhenahe an San Giocomo I likely mispelled the last name)
Mr.Town,Wood,etc..=Neil Gaiman
Sherif Whatshisface(can't remember,light fading, beam me up God)=Jeff Foxworthy

ok, #1 thing to say. Mr Gaiman, AWESOME book. The whole premise is amazingly written. Now for my casting bets.
[img}http://www.nativecelebs.com/duane/images/duane14b.jpg[/img]
Shadow: First thought was the Rock, but shadow seems at least part native so native actor Duane Loken would fit well, right down to the chiselled jawline and build. Sorry Rock, back to the deserts you go!
Mr Wednesday: Rip Torn for sure
Mr Wednesdays Crows: Isaac Heyes just hearing him say FU from in a tree, that visual tickles me pink.
Laura: Rachel Weisz or Alex Rice
Mr Ibis: Ben Kingsley
Mr Jacquel: Morgan Freeman
Baast: Salma Hayek (I knew I wasnt Alone)
Techno Boy: Jack Osbourne with more pimples
Media: The mom from the wonder Years
Czernobog: Denis Franz (short bulky) or Willem Defoe (lanky strong russian look)
Loki: who in their right mind would not think of Spike Milligan,comeon, after seeing him as the old man in the hole in Life of Brian?? hehehe.. they're all Ive B***** got to eat LOL.
Mr Wood: Hugo Weaving
Mr Stone: David Duchovny
Mr Town: Tommy Lee Jones
Easter: After that dress, and Easter being a nature goddess of sorts, Monica Belucci
Mr Nancy: Until someone mentioned it, I didnt think of Richard Prior, but him in the Yellow Brown tartan coat with yellow gloves, a cane and some sort of top hat.. yeah who couldnt miss it
Mr Sweeney: two choices, Sean Connery or Hagrid ala Harry Potter
The Buffallo God: I pictured this in a very dark, dim underworld, portraying the god of the buffalo who went to the underground sanctuary waiting for the day the white man would leave america, he needs that anger inside, that intrusive voice that lingers in your head after the movie is done. My exwife is very adamant on Tom Jackson.
Sam: Tamara Podemski, everyone is picking a white actress.. Native actress would be better, and Tamara has made some great movies
The God everyone Forgets: Neil Gaiman would be perfect simply because who would think the author, who wrote such a great book, would take on a character that is totally ambiguous. He looks the part too.

Ok Folks, Thanks for me letting get this off my chest. Thanks mr Gaiman for such a great book.