Apocalyptic GOOD OMENS Coming to Amazon and BBC

The Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett novel Good Omens will be turned into a “comedic apocalyptic” miniseries by Amazon. It is set to be released on Amazon Prime in 2018 and broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom.

The novel, published in 1990, is the story of humanity’s time before the Apocalypse. Angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley try to procrastinate bringing about the end of the world, enjoying how comfortable life is on Earth for Good and Evil. For instance, of the four horseman, Famine is a diet book author and War is a female war correspondent. Due to a mix-up at the hospital, the Antichrist grows up in a quiet British town. Sounds great, right?

Good Omens was adapted before as a BBC six-part radio broadcast in 2014 in which Gaiman and Pratchett recorded cameo roles.

Gaiman is excited about the adaptation for the six-part limited hour-long comedic series, for which he will be writing the script. Before Pratchett’s death in 2015 due to complications from Alzheimer’s, he penned a letter for Gaiman, asking him to write the TV adaptation in his absence. Gaiman made this statement about his work with Pratchett:

Almost 30 years ago, Terry Pratchett and I wrote the funniest novel we could about the end of the world, populated with angels and demons, not to mention an 11-year-old Antichrist, witchfinders, and the four horsepeople of the Apocalypse. It became many people’s favorite book. Three decades later, it’s going to make it to the screen. I can’t think of anyone we’d rather make it with than BBC Studios, and I just wish Sir Terry were alive to see it.

Enthusiasm was also expressed by Mark Linsey, Director of BBC Studios, stating:

This is a fantastic achievement that comes as we begin to grow our global customer base, and it demonstrates there is considerable appetite for BBC Studios to make programs for other broadcasters once we launch as a commercial player. I’m delighted that this major production is with a writer or Neil Gaiman’s stature and we look forward to developing more exciting, innovative projects like this in the future.

Gaiman will also serve as the showrunner with Caroline Skinner (Doctor Who), Chris Sussman (Fleabag), Rob Wilkins (Choosing to Die), and Rod Brown (Going Postal) as executive producers.