American Gods: First Look At Technical Boy

Starz has released (via EW) the first look at Technical Boy (played by Bruce Langley), a New God who is a purveyor of all things technology, in American Gods.

Since the show is based on a 2001 novel written by Neil Gaiman, Technical Boy underwent many changes to account for how far technology has advanced in the the past 15 years. But before he could be brought into the future, director David Slade and co-showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green wanted to introduce him with a look inspired by the highest-selling single computer model of all time.

"We needed to establish a frame of reference for the aesthetic of the Technical Boy, and [director] David Slade, I believe, was the first one to say 'Commodore 64,'" Fuller told EW. "That will mean more to the audience once they understand more of the Technical Boy's story — why the Commodore 64 and that era of technology is so informative for the look of him and the story and the general aesthetic when we first sample his world."

Every time you see the Technical Boy, he'll be wearing different outfits, reflecting new looks and new personas he's trying on.

"Technology has gone from something that was the province of the young to something ubiquitous and in your pocket, and the aesthetics of that have changed," said Green. "Technology very much has a tie into fashion, which goes in cycles and changes overnight. What's in fashion, technologically, and what's in fashion, in fashion, are minute to minute and you can't possibly keep up. And we look to the Technical Boy to be someone who's very much a victim of both. The idea of feeling like you have to feed the beast of what's new and what's fresh is very much in his mind."

American Gods has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society's modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.

"American Gods" is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Bryan Fuller ("Hannibal," "Pushing Daisies," "Heroes") and Michael Green ("The River," "Kings," "Heroes") are writers and showrunners. David Slade ("Hannibal," "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse") is directing the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA's Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk are executive producing the series along with Fuller, Green, Slade and Neil Gaiman.

The cast features Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon, Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday, Emily Browning as Laura Moon, Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney, Yetide Badaki as Bilquis, Bruce Langley as Technical Boy, Crispin Glover as Mr. World, Jonathan Tucker as Low Key Lyesmith, Gillian Anderson as Media, Peter Stormare as Czernobog, Orlando Jones as Mr. Nancy, Demore Barnes as Mr. Ibis, and Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya.

American Gods will premiere on Starz in 2017.