FREMANTLEMEDIA INTRODUCES A COLLECTION OF LICENSED PRODUCTS BASED ON THE AMERICAN GODS TV SERIES

Burbank, CA, May 19, 2017 – With a flourishing fan base that’s continuing to expand with each episode, FremantleMedia is launching a range of licensed products inspired by the American Gods TV series. Based on Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel of the same name, American Gods premiered in the U.S. on STARZ on April 30, 2017. The TV gods smiled upon the network when American Gods debuted to the most Live+SD series premiere viewers amongst all current STARZ Original series, and set a network record for the highest L+7 series premiere viewers. Internationally the series premiered on Amazon’s international Prime Video service on May 1, 2017, where it is currently the most watched show in the U.K. on the streaming service.

Last week it was announced that STARZ has picked up a second season of the deity-driven, critically acclaimed original series. Amazon Prime Video also followed suit and will make the second season available to more than 200 territories outside the U.S.

“There has been so much excitement and anticipation for American Gods that we wanted to offer our fan base a collection of product in celebration of the first season,” said Andrea Brent, Senior Vice President of Licensing & Franchise Management, FremantleMedia North America. “An expanded offering is currently in development and will be available in 2018 to support the recently announced second season.”

For true believers that want to wear their allegiance, Ripple Junction has created a line of men’s and women’s graphic tees for specialty retailers in the U.S. Select designs will also be available to consumers on Amazon. Dark Horse Deluxe, a division of Dark Horse Comics, is developing a host of novelty and collectable products that will be available worldwide including a sculpted coin replica, as well as a pint glass set and shot glass set commemorating the infamous watering hole of the Gods, Jack’s Crocodile Bar. Rizzoli will be launching a 2018 wall calendar that will be available in September at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Go! Calendars, and more. In addition, Trends will release a series of posters and bookmarks carrying the iconic American Gods imagery for the U.S. market.

For the rabid collector, Chronicle Books is creating a behind-the-scenes hard cover book that will provide further insight into the making of season 1, while Rittenhouse Archives will release a series of trading cards in both the printed and digital format. Collectors will rejoice with stylized figures from Funko, non-articulated vinyl figures from Titan, and articulated action figures, foam replicas and scalers from NECA. All of these products will be available globally.

In the U.S. and Canada, Brand Access has signed on to run the official American Gods online store. The store is scheduled to launch in June and will initially feature limited edition, curated product bundles.  The bundles will include both products developed by Brand Access, as well as other officially licensed merchandise.

In addition, Represent is on board for a global direct to consumer campaign offering fans limited edition graphic tees.  Represent will work with American Gods cast members to design tees in support of their favorite charities.  Each weekend through the rest of the season a new character tee and corresponding charity will be revealed.  Currently, Ricky Whittle’s Shadow Moon tee is available at www.represent.com/shadowmoon, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Love Is Louder (http://loveislouder.com).  The next American Gods limited edition tee will feature Yetide Badaki’s Bilquis character and will be unveiled on Sunday, May 21st on www.represent.com. 

Across Europe, Danilo Promotions Limited is creating a series of calendars and journals, while Pyramid Posters is creating a slate of posters, wall art, mugs and stickers. Also available in the UK and Irish markets will be apparel from Trademark Products and Brands In, as well as a range of apparel, accessories and more from cult entertainment retailer, Forbidden Planet.

Welcoming additional partners for the American Gods brand, FremantleMedia will be taking meetings in booth C-196 at the upcoming Licensing Expo 2017 taking place in Las Vegas, NV from May 23-25 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

About American Gods

Adapted from the award-winning novel, “American Gods” posits a different kind of war brewing—one between Old Gods and New. The traditional Old Gods, with mythological roots from around the world, fear irrelevance as their believers die off or are seduced by the money, technology, and celebrity offered by the New Gods. Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is an ex-con who, left adrift by the recent death of his wife, becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to conman Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane). But in truth, Mr. Wednesday is a powerful old deity, on a cross-country mission to build an army and reclaim his lost glory.

“American Gods” also stars Emily Browning (“Sucker Punch,” “Legend”) as Laura Moon and Pablo Schreiber (“Orange is the New Black”) as Mad Sweeney. Other cast members include Yetide Badaki (“Aquarius,” “Masters of Sex”) as Bilquis; Bruce Langley (“Deadly Waters”) as Technical Boy; Crispin Glover (“Back to the Future”) as Mr. World; and Orlando Jones (“Madiba,” “Sleepy Hollow”) as Mr. Nancy.

Additional cast include Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files,” “The Fall”) as Media; Kristin Chenoweth (“Pushing Daisies,” “Wicked”) as Easter; Jonathan Tucker (“Kingdom”) as Low Key Lyesmith; Cloris Leachman (“Malcom in The Middle,” “Raising Hope”) as Zorya Vechernyaya; Peter Stormare (“Fargo,” “Prison Break”) as Czernobog; Chris Obi (“Snow White and the Huntsman,” “The Counselor”) as Anubis; Demore Barnes (“12 Monkeys”) as Mr. Ibis; Corbin Bernsen (“L.A. Law”) as Vulcan; Mousa Kraish (“Superbad,” “Fast & Furious”) as The Jinn; and Omid Abtahi (“Argo,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”) as Salim.

“American Gods” is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Heroes”) and Michael Green (“Logan,” “Blade Runner 2049," "Alien: Covenant," "Murder on the Orient Express," “Kings,” “Heroes”) are writers and showrunners. David Slade (“Hannibal,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) directed the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA’s Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk are executive producers along with Fuller, Green, Slade, Adam Kane and Neil Gaiman. Senior Vice Presidents of Original Programming Marta Fernandez and Ken Segna are the STARZ executives in charge of “American Gods.”

STARZ retains all network pay TV and SVOD rights, as well as certain DVD distribution rights in the US and Canada, to the project. FremantleMedia International is distributing the series in all other media worldwide.

Written by Neil Gaiman in 2001, American Gods has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. 

 

About FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia creates, produces and distributes some of the best known and loved content in the world including: American Gods, The Young Pope, Deutschland 83, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, Match Game, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, Wentworth, Neighbours, Grand Designs, Jamie Oliver, Danger Mouse, Munchies (with VICE Media), and The Football Republic. We have an outstanding global network with operations in 31 countries, producing over 11,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and airing more than 420 programmes a year worldwide. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. We are part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, content and digital, and a division of the international media company Bertelsmann. For more information, visit www.fremantlemedia.com, follow us @FremantleMedia and visit our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is a premier content studio. FMNA and its portfolio of companies, including Random House Studio, Original Productions and 495 Productions, create entertaining and innovative scripted and alternative programs for network, cable, syndicated and digital partners. Its diverse, critically-acclaimed and award-winning slate includes American Idol (ABC), America’s Got Talent (NBC), Family Feud (SYN), Let’s Make A Deal (CBS), The Price Is Right (CBS), The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC), Deadliest Catch (Discovery), Jay Leno’s Garage (CNBC), Married to Medicine (Bravo), Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party (VH1), Blue Collar Millionaires (CNBC), Ice Road Truckers (HISTORY), Storage Wars (A&E), Celebrity Family Feud (ABC), To Tell The Truth (ABC), Match Game (ABC) and American Gods (STARZ), among others. FMNA also operates BUZZR, a retro game show channel that launched in 2015, and is available in the top 10 U.S. markets, and 65 percent of the country.  

FMNA is the U.S. arm of global media giant FremantleMedia, which includes a distribution arm, FremantleMedia International, a digital and branded entertainment division and a kids & family entertainment business.  As one of the world’s largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of TV  brands in the world, FremantleMedia’s comprehensive global network has operations in 31 countries, creating over 11,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 420 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. For more information follow us @FMNATV and visit our Facebook page.