March 18, 2016 - 13:48 AMT
Emily Browning joins Neil Gaiman's “American Gods” adaptation

Starz's American Gods has cast its Laura Moon. A Series of Unfortunate Events alum Emily Browning will take on the role in the cabler's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

The drama centers on a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of biblical and 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 (The 100's Ricky Whittle), is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a con man but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation for a battle with the new deities.

Browning's Laura Moon is Shadow Moon’s wife, who has been preparing for her husband's pending prison release. Little does she know that she will go on an unexpected journey that leads her to an epiphany about her relationship and affords her a second chance to get things right. Browning joins a cast that also includes Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday.

The Australia native played Violet in the 2004 feature film take of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. The role earned her a Critics' Choice nomination for best young actress. Her other credits include Legend, Ghost Ship, Ned Kelly, Pompeii and Magic Mike.

"I've been fascinated by Emily Browning since A Series of Unfortunate Events." said Gaiman. "She has a challenge ahead of her: Laura is a tricky character, and the Laura on the screen is even trickier and more dangerous than the one on the page. She's going to have a wonderful time bringing Laura to life.”

Production on the series from FremantleMedia North America will begin in April. Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (The River) will pen the script and serve as showrunners. David Slade will direct the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA's Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk will executive produce alongside Fuller, Green, Slade and Gaiman. Starz senior vps original programming Marta Fernandez and Ken Segna will oversee for the network.