Benedict Cumberbatch added to ‘Good Omens’ as the voice of Satan


Michael Sheen and David Tennant in Good Omens

Benedict Cumberbatch will join Michael Sheen (left) and David Tennant in ‘Good Omens.’ (PHOTO CREDIT: CHRIS RAPHAEL)

With Neil Gaiman appearing via satellite, one of the most-anticipated comedy/drama series dominating the drama buzz at the 2019 BBC Showcase in Liverpool is Good Omens.

The BBC Showcase

The Showcase is an annual gathering where the British public broadcaster rolls out their best programming for approximately 700 TV buyers — like Bill, who’s the television VP at North Texas public media station KERA — from around the world.

» Go to all BBC Showcase stories

Based on the Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett novel of the same name, the six-part series follows Aziraphale and Crowley, an angel and a demon who are hell-bent on averting the Apocalypse — given their fondness for their Earthly lifestyle.

Already sporting a killer cast with David Tennant as the rockstar-ish demon Crawley and Michael Sheen as the angel Aziriphale, the series recently added the brilliant Frances McDormand as the voice of God. And now, word has come out of the recent Television Critics Association gathering that Benedict Cumberbatch would provide the voice of Satan in the program.

The Sherlock star will square off against the Fargo and Three Billboards star McDormand when Good Omens premieres on May 31.

If that’s not enough to get you to put Good Omens on your binge-watch list, there’s also Jon Hamm (as in Mad Men’s Don Draper, Jon Hamm) as the Archangel Gabriel as well as Anna Maxwell Martin (Bletchley Circle), Miranda Richardson (Blackadder, Harry Potter) and Michael McKean (Better Call SaulThis is Spinal Tap).

Oh, and shall I mention again that this is from the brilliant mind-palaces of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett?

In Good Omens, the Apocalypse is near and Final Judgment is set to descend upon humanity in a week’s time. The armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising and tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to divine plan — except that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon, are not looking forward to the coming war and, oh by the way, someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist.

Good Omens lands on Amazon Prime on May 31 with a BBC Two broadcast later this year.


In: Drama