Whoopi Goldberg has joined the cast of Prime Video’s Anansi Boys. She will play Bird Woman in the studio’s series adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel.
The six-episode series follows Charlie Nancy (Malachi Kirby) — sometimes known as Fat Charlie (it was his father’s nickname for him; he’s not fat) — a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father. But when his father dies, Charlie discovers that he was Anansi: the trickster God of Stories (Delroy Lindo). And he learns that he has a brother. Now that brother, Spider (also Kirby), is entering Charlie’s life, determined to make it more interesting but making it a lot more dangerous instead.
Goldberg’s Bird Woman is the embodiment of – you guessed it – birds. But not just beautiful stately birds in flight. Anyone who’s had a close encounter with a seagull knows that some birds are more dangerous than others, and Bird Woman is the most dangerous of them all. Long ago Anansi did her wrong. Now might be her chance to turn the tables.
“I have been a fan of this book for a very long time, and when Neil Gaiman told me it was being brought to the screen, I did everything I could to be part of it to help make people aware of Anansi and all his magic,” said Goldberg.
Similarly, Gaiman himself said he always envisioned Goldberg in the role.
“When I first conceived Anansi Boys decades ago, I imagined Whoopi Goldberg as Bird Woman,” said Gaiman. “I wasn’t able to meet her until 2018, when she interviewed me with some of the Good Omens team at New York Comic Con. At which point she mentioned that she had just finished listening to Sir Lenny Henry’s reading of Anansi Boys, and that it was one of her favorite books. Sometimes things feel planned and inevitable, and we are incredibly lucky. She’s going to be scary.”
The Animal Gods of Anansi Boys
In addition to Goldberg, Prime Video revealed additional cast members rounding out the cast of animal gods on Anansi Boys. Check out the cast and character descriptions below.
Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Hotel Rwanda) as Tiger. He’s still angry with Anansi for stealing the stories, for making fun of him and for coming out on top. Tiger — the name of any Big Cat in the Caribbean — is a dangerous enemy to Anansi and all his bloodline.
Emmanuel Ighodaro (The Queen and I) as Lion. He’s proud and noble and has no time for Anansi.
Cecilia Noble (The Lady in the Van) as Elephant. She’s old and wise, and hates Anansi.
Ayanna Witter-Johnson (The Collaboration) as Snake. She’s beautiful and deadly and hates Anansi.
Don Gilet (Sherwood) as Monkey. He’s terrified of Anansi, keen on food — particularly fruit — and has the attention span of, well, a monkey.
Previously announced cast members include Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn as Rosie Noah, Grace Saif as Detective Constable Daisy Day, Jason Watkins as Grahame Coats, Fiona Shaw as Maeve Livingstone, CCH Pounder as Mrs. Higgler, L. Scott Caldwell as Mrs. Dunwiddy, Joy Richardson as Mrs. Bustamonte, and Lachele Carl as Miss Noles.
The series is filming in Scotland and will ultimately premiere on Prime Video.
Source: Deadline
