Bryan Fuller adapting 'American Gods' as Starz series

Bryan Fuller and Michael Green are to pen and produce a TV series based on Neil Gaiman's contemporary fantasy novel American Gods, Starz announced.

Gaiman will also executive produce the drama, which FremantleMedia North America will produce.

Start of production is dependent on casting the lead role of Shadow Moon.

"Starz is committed to bring American Gods to its legions of fans. With our partners at FremantleMedia and with Bryan, Michael and Neil guiding the project, we hope to create a series that honors the book and does right by the fans, who have been casting it in their minds for years. The search for Shadow begins today," Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht said in a statement Tuesday.

"I am thrilled, ‎scared, delighted, nervous and a ball of glorious anticipation," added Gaiman. "The team that is going to bring the world of American Gods to the screen has been assembled like the master criminals in a caper movie: I'm relieved and confident that my baby is in good hands. Now we finally move to the exciting business that fans have been doing for the last dozen years: casting our Shadow, our Wednesday, our Laura."

"Almost 15 years ago, Neil Gaiman filled a toy box with gods and magic and we are thrilled to finally crack it open and play," Fuller and Green said in a joint statement. "We're grateful to have Starz above us and FremantleMedia at our backs as we appease the gods, American or otherwise."