Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Katie Williams

Edinburgh to host new Amazon Prime series Anansi Boys after Good Omens filming

Leith is set to welcome another film crew as a new Amazon Prime series will begin filming in Edinburgh later this year.

Anansi Boys is the latest graphic novel from Neil Gaiman to be transformed onto the small screen.

The series, developed by Gaiman and his friend Sir Lenny Henry will begin filming at First Stage Studios in Leith.

READ MORE: Edinburgh Film Festival to host huge outdoor cinema you can go to for free

This comes after the second series of Good Omens, written by Gaiman and Sir Terry Pratchett, would also be filmed in Scotland.

The novel followed the sons of Mr Nancy, an incarnation of West African trickster god Anansi, as they discover one another and embark on an adventure following his death.

The story was developed during conversations between Gaiman and comedian Sir Lenny Henry, with the new adaptation reuniting the pair as executive producers and writers.

Gaiman said: "Anansi Boys began around 1996, from a conversation I had with Lenny Henry about writing a story that was diverse and part of the culture that we both loved.

"I wrote a novel, a (I hope) joyous and funny book about a dead god and his two sons, about birds and ghosts and beasts and cops, based in Caribbean and African tales.

"It was my first number one NYT bestseller and went on to become a beloved and award-winning book."

Gaiman added they are "trying to make a new kind of show with Anansi Boys, and to break ground with it to make something that celebrates and rejoices in diversity both in front of and behind the camera.

"I'm so thrilled it's happening and that people will be meeting Mr Nancy, Charlie and Spider, the Bird Woman and the rest of them."

Sir Lenny said: "I've been a huge fan (and couch sleeping friend) of Neil Gaiman's for over 30 years and I have loved being a part of the Anansi Boys creative team.

"I love that we're going to have a suitably diverse cast and crew to tell this joyous story.

"What's great is that the whole production is listening and ensuring that inclusion is happening and is being seen to be done."

Gaiman's works also include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard.

Isabel Davis, executive director at Screen Scotland, said: "It's phenomenal that Amazon Studios, Douglas Mackinnon and Neil Gaiman are bringing a second production to Scotland.

"It's having a transformative impact on the local industry and Screen Scotland has been delighted to work with the production and the team at First Stage Studios to support it coming to Scotland, including sourcing crew, locations, support for traineeships, and identifying new and diverse talent, alongside a world class team from Scotland and beyond."

Leith has recently welcomed the cast of BBC Scotland's Guilt and Line of Duty actor Martin Compston as he was spotted filming for a new Amazon Prime series, The Rig.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.