In yet another sign from above…and/or, below, stellar cast added for Neil Gaiman’s ‘Good Omens 2’
Photo Courtesy: Amazon Studios
If anyone is still in need of proof that there is a God (and a Devil, for that matter), Good Omens is currently in production in Scotland for a second series. David Tennant and Michael Sheen will return as Crawley and Aziriphale while Derek Jacobi (Gladiator) will reprise his role as Metatron.
Reprising their roles that span heaven, hell, and earth for series 2 are the trio from The League of Gentlemen Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), Steve Pemberton (Killing Eve), and Reece Shearsmith (Inside No. 9). Also returning are Jon Hamm, Miranda Richardson, Maggie Service, Nina Sosanya, Doon Mackichan, Gloria Obianyo, Liz Carr, Quelin Sepulveda, Niamh Walsh and Shelley Conn.
Joining the cast for series two will be Jacobi’s I, Claudius co-star Dame Siân Phillips (Dune), Tim Downie (Outlander), Pete Firman (The Magicians), Andi Osho (I May Destroy You), and Alex Norton (Pirates of the Caribbean). .
It is with great sadness, however, we must report that Benedict Cumberbatch and Frances McDormand won’t be back for series two as Satan and God, respectively.
While Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett did have plans for a second Good Omens novel prior to Pratchett’s death with some of the elements they had discussed having already been featured in Good Omen’s first series, according to Deadline, the new six-episode season will explore storylines that go beyond the original source material to illuminate the uncanny friendship between the fussy, rare book dealer, Aziraphale and the fast-living demon Crowley.
Michael Sheen (L) as Aziraphale and David Tennant (R) as Crowley in Good Omens. Photo: Amazon Studios
Explaining how it’s possible to bring a second series to life that will please fans, showrunner and co-writer of the original novel, Neil Gaiman said, “It’s 31 years since Good Omens was published, which means it’s 32 years since Terry Pratchett and I lay in our respective beds in a Seattle hotel room at a World Fantasy Convention, and plotted the sequel. Terry’s not here any longer, but when he was, we had talked about what we wanted to do with Good Omens, and where the story went next.
Having been on Earth since The Beginning, and with the Apocalypse thwarted, Aziraphale and Crowley are settling in and getting back to easy living amongst mortals in London’s Soho when an unexpected messenger presents a surprising mystery.
Based on the satirical 1990 end of the world novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good Omens was a devilishly fun (sorry, couldn’t help it). For starters, there’s David Tennant starring as the rockstarish demon Crawley and Michael Sheen as the angel Aziriphale. The on-screen greatness began almost immediately when David Tennant’s ‘Crowley’ says, to Michael Sheen’s Aziriphale, “We need to talk…about armageddon.” What could possible go wrong?
Photo credit: Chris Raphael
Considered to be the original representatives of Heaven and Hell on Earth, their paths initially crossed with Aziriphale tasked with being the guardian of the Eastern Gate of Eden while Crawley served as the serpent who tempted Eve to eat the apple. Given that the both of them have come to really enjoy their comfortable surroundings in England, it’s understandable that both are ‘hell-bent’ (sorry, again) on working together to stop the apocalypse from happening by mistake.
Since Aziriphale and Crawley have become BFF’s (literally forever) despite their decidedly polar opposite views as they relate to the world in general, they decide to work together and keep an eye on the Antichrist, who is destined to be the son of a prominent American diplomat stationed in Britain, and thus ensure he grows up in a way that means he can never decide between Good and Evil, thereby postponing the end of the world. Complicating matters is the fact that there’s a bit of a mixup at the small country hospital on the day of birth causing confusion as to where the actual son of Satan really is.
For series one, Oscar winner, Frances McDormand (Fargo, Almost Famous, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) headed an all-star ensemble cast as the self-described “Voice of God”. If that wasn’t 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, Anna Maxwell Martin (Bletchley Circle), Miranda Richardson (Blackadder, Harry Potter) and Michael McKean (Better Call Saul, This is Spinal Tap). Oh, and shall I mention again that this came from the brilliant mind palaces of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett? Gaiman wrote all six scripts and has been heavily involved in the editing phase of the Amazon Prime production.
While it may feel like Planet Earth has just been through the apocalypse for the past 2+ years, Good Omens S2, for my money, couldn’t come at a better time!
In: Drama
