The news about the Amazon adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys continues to get better. We already know that Delroy Lindo will be Mr. Nancy, and the show has a lead – who will tackle dual roles. Small Axe's Malachi Kirby is playing both Charlie and Spider.
The story follows Charlie Nancy, a young man who is used to being embarrassed by his estranged father. But when his dad (Lindo) dies, Charlie discovers that he was Anansi: trickster god of stories. And he learns that he has a brother. Now that brother, Spider, is entering Charlie’s life, determined to make it more interesting but making it a lot more dangerous...
"Malachi Kirby is an actor of astonishing sensitivity, charm, and power," Gaiman says in a statement carried by Variety. "We needed somebody who could bring us the humanity of Charlie and the godly dangerousness of Spider; who could play two very different characters and who could in many ways carry the show. We found Malachi, and I am so thrilled that we did. He’s astonishing."
Gaiman is part of the team bringing the book to screens, which also includes his Good Omens cohort Douglas Mackinnon as co-showrunner, Lenny Henry, Arvind Ethan David, Kara Smith and Racheal Ofori on the writing team and Hanelle M. Culpepper leading a cadre of directors that features Jermain Julien and Azhur Saleem. Amazon has ordered a six-episode first season with the cameras scheduled to roll later this year in Scotland.