Fantasy book adaptations often need to find an angle by which to grab weary audiences, be it with big-name stars, or a fun twist. But the upcoming Amazon Prime series based on Good Omens is just amplifying the part of the book that everyone loves: the angel-demon buddy comedy.
For those unfamiliar with the book, Good Omens was written by literary legends Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. The book follows the lead-up to armageddon, with the Anti-Christ being the one way angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley can make it stop and continue enjoying their weird existences on Earth. From the Four Bikers of the Apocalypse, to witch prophecies, and even a hell hound in the mix, it’s a race to the finish for the armies of good and evil and the few who want to stand in the way of the end of all things.
While the book certainly develops the relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley, it’s spends as much time with the Anti-Christ (who is not where he is supposed to be) and the other side characters as it builds up to a massive finale. However, the trailer gives us the idea that the show will use these two characters to ground the series and help shape the episodic narrative.
It’s not hard to see why they made that decision, as it’s not only the best remembered part of the book but also they got two amazing actors to play the parts. The ever popular David Tennant, best known as the tenth Doctor and Jessica Jones‘s Kilgrave, is playing Crowley, a snarky, lazy demon who does things his own way. Equally impressive Michael Sheen. who while being in a lot of fantasy franchises is best known for playing Tony Blair and David Frost, plays the angel Aziraphale, a fussy and particular angel who has plenty of creature comforts. It’ll be fun to see these two veterans play off of each other, especially given the shenanigans they get up to in the book.
Good Omens will premiere on BBC Two and Amazon Prime sometime in 2019.
