American Gods is currently on its third season and we’re only four episodes away from the season finale. The STARZ series has starred Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon since season one. Whittle previously played Lincoln in The CW’s The 100. Since episode one of season one, Shadow has served as the human’s window to this world of Old Gods, New Gods, and the war they’re entangled in.
Luckily for us, Whittle took the time to answer some of our burning questions about American Gods. You can check out those answers below – the questions in the first half of this interview were asked by me (Tia!).
Hello there, Ricky – first of all, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. I’m loving season three so far – how has the reception been so far?
It’s been fantastic thank the Gods. We were lucky enough to have for most of the season in the can. We shot two extra episodes this season so more bang for the buck. And, we, fortunately, had shot all 10 episodes of principle photography although like previous seasons we like to go back in and grab the usual pick-ups and reshoots that have always truly elevated scenes and episodes. Those extra two to three weeks always made such a difference so it’s a shame we weren’t able to have that time but should feel blessed that we were able to get 10 episodes out in any condition.
We see a very different Shadow this season as opposed to seasons one and two. How has it been playing a version of Shadow that not only knows the truth as far as who Mr. Wednesday is to him and the truth about Laura’s death, but who is a little freer to choose his own destiny?
It has been the plan from day one, season one. The final Shadow I wanted to evolve into will be the one we watch in a season four. We are obviously filming an adaptation from Neil Gaiman’s incredible novel. Many haven’t read it so won’t realize until the end of the show what I’ve been planning and developing which will be exciting to see the response when that time comes.
Season 3 we have a Shadow pushing back and choosing to make his own decisions and walk his own path. We see him want things for himself, a home, friends with Chad and Cordelia, potentially love in Marguerite. He craves that normal life but also has to come to terms as to whether that can be paired with the responsibilities he has gained in the knowledge of being a God and what kind of God he will be. It’s fun to develop an arch like that. I’ve enjoyed the fun he’s had this year. I’m excited for the next and final stage of shadows evolution
Lakeside just seems like a winter wonderland. What was it like filming this beloved section of the book?
Brutal, it was horrific weather conditions shooting in deep winter by a lake in Toronto Canada with temperatures plummeting to -23!! I’ve never felt cold like that and hope to never again, it was painful. But it added so much to the story and is my favorite part of the book. It’s like its own character so this season was exciting for me, once I got over the frozen limbs. I also enjoyed getting to work with essentially a whole new cast in lakeside. In the book shadow goes there alone so we had to create this town and populate it with fantastic actors like Eric Johnson, Lela Loren and Julia Sweeney. We had a lot of fun and the show like the book definitely becomes a different genre and moment as each season has.
Shadow is getting to work with a lot of people. And I have to say that I am loving the scenes you had with Eric Johnson, Yetide Badaki, and Bruce Langley. These seem like interactions that Shadow would not have been able to have in the past. What were some of your favorite scenes with Bilquis, Chad, Technical Boy?
I’ve really enjoyed the writing this season. Gone are the long speeches at each other where Shadow just watched Gods tell monologues. I feel with more interaction between the characters there’s more engagement. Relationships are growing and developing as we are seeing characters interact and have real conversations we can follow. New dynamics that have intrigued me. Getting to have fun buddy buddy cop moments with Tech Boy and Chad, or gentle enlightening moments with Bilquis, all the while layering moments that an audience will be able to go back to reference things that will come in the stories ahead.
This season and the next has been very well thought out and I’m enjoying getting to play with more of this talented cast. They’re my family and we love just going to work and having fun. Episode 5 was so much fun, I got to work with nearly the whole cast in one episode with fun ‘Oceans 11’ moments, relationships progressed both new and old and I think the fans really enjoyed seeing that fun side of shadow
What do you think Shadow thinks of Cordelia being Mr. Wednesday’s new driver?
I think he worries for her. We see real concern for her safety both mentally and physically as he knows what this world is about and how much danger she could be in. But offers to be her rock ‘when’ and not ‘if’ things go wrong and get a little too crazy for her. I like the bond that’s growing between them. Two characters with a great connection.
Episode five ended with a massive cliffhanger. What should fans expect from seeing Shadow and an alive Laura interact?
I’m excited to see the fans’ response knowing where we are taking these two. I think when you keep these two apart for so long you forget until you see them again that they have this history and connection. They will always care for each other. The chemistry will always be there and they will always be connected. But they have very different paths and wants at present and are due to clash sooner than later. Your ex-wife wants to kill your father for killing her first is a tough conversation and situation for any couple.
This second half of questions were asked by our amazing Head of Marketing, Kelly Kantrowitz:
What would you like to be remembered for?
in life? Being one of the good ones. There are a lot of people who are out for themselves, not necessarily bad people but selfish people. I call it ‘crab in a barrel’ syndrome where they will crawl over each other to get out of that barrel. And I never want to be that guy. I want and like to help others, physically yes but in today’s technological age, mentally we can do more than we realize.
We can spread so much positivity and love yet we see cyberbullies and trolls, faceless cowards, keyboard warriors posting negativity and hate. The sooner we can quiet that noise and grow the love and light in that space, spread that energy around, the better peoples worlds can become. I will always try to push a positive happy message, I just hope when I’m remembered, it’s with a fond smile
Which fictional character would you be most excited to meet in real life?
Wonder Woman haha
What was it like working on the set of The 100? How different or similar was the atmosphere when compared to American Gods?
I loved working with some great characters on the 100. I loved the role of Lincoln and working opposite Marie (Octavia), we had a great connection. Paige Turco, Michael Beech were just constant fun when I got the chance to work with them. But it’s a completely different atmosphere on American gods. A positive happy fun place that was nonstop laughs on and offset.
Guest actors would comment on how fun and positive the set was. It had a reputation for being very welcoming which I’m proud of, we apparently were very known for our crew’s shoe game too. Very stylish crew allegedly haha it was an actor set where actors were able to feel safe and bring their A-game and play. By far the most talented ensemble I’ve ever had the fortune to work with, a fantastic casting department. Even now we all speak every day on our group chats, I think that chemistry off-camera translates well on camera
Are you a prankster/troublemaker on set? What’s the greatest prank you’ve ever pulled (or had pulled on you)?
Without doubt I’m the trouble maker and prankster. A close second was Mousa Kraish who plays the Jinn. We had a prank war going on. I placed over 100 water bottles on his trailer floor so he couldn’t get in or use the toilet. I plastered Kristin Chenoweth and Pablo Schreiber’s trailer walls with posters of my face. Silly things other than giggling on set.
What is a topic or issue you’re extremely passionate about?
Animals and children are my things. I feel they need to be protected at all costs as they can’t protect themselves
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
I was carrying an orange juice downstairs and slipped falling down a few. I managed to not drop a single drop on the floor and felt very proud. But as I sat and drank at the same time proud from my close escape I missed my mouth and it spilled all down my front. The world just didn’t want me to whence my thirst.
On the days you just don’t feel like rolling out of bed, what’s your go-to activity to pump up your motivation?
I don’t really have one. At present either I get up and train or I will stay in bed if that’s what my body is telling me. I tend to set my alarm early so after a while of waking up and just lying there, I get bored so being an energetic person I always feel the need to get up and do something.
We thank Ricky for taking the time to answer all of our questions. And we can’t wait to see the rest of American Gods season three. Fingers crossed for season four!
You can check out our interview with Eric Johnson (Chad Mulligan) here. And our interview with Ashley Reyes (Cordelia) here.
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