Exclusive: Yetide Badaki Talks Starz’s American Gods Blu-rayPosted by Wilson Morales
October 22, 2017
Currently on Blu-ray and DVD is the critically acclaimed Starz fantasy series “American Gods” Season One, produced by FremantleMedia North America. From writer-producers Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal”) and Michael Green (“Heroes”) and based on Neil Gaiman’s international best-selling novel, “American Gods” Season One is a visual feast focusing on an ex-convict named Shadow Moon, and his sudden introduction into a power struggle between the Old and New Gods.
“American Gods” Season One stars Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon, Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday, Emily Browning as Laura Moon, Sean Harris as Mad Sweeney, Yetide Badaki as Bilquis, Bruce Langley as Technical Boy, Crispin Glover as Mr World, and Jonathan Tucker as Low Key Lyesmith.
Also appearing on the series are Orlando Jones as Mr. Nancy, Gillian Anderson as Media; Kristin Chenoweth as Easter; Jonathan Tucker as Low Key Lyesmith; Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya; Peter Stormare as Czernobog; Chris Obi as Anubis; Demore Barnes as Mr. Ibis, Corbin Bernsen as Vulcan and Mousa Kraish as The Jinn.
When Shadow Moon is released from prison, he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday and a storm begins to brew. Little does Shadow know, this storm will change the course of his entire life. Left adrift by the recent, tragic death of his wife, and suddenly hired as Mr. Wednesday’s bodyguard, Shadow finds himself in the center of a world that he struggles to understand. It’s a hidden world where magic is real, where the Old Gods fear both irrelevance and the growing power of the New Gods, like Technology and Media. Mr. Wednesday seeks to build a coalition of Old Gods to defend their existence in this new America, and reclaim some of the influence that they’ve lost. As Shadow travels across the country with Mr. Wednesday, he struggles to accept this new reality, and his place in it.
The home entertainment release of “American Gods” Season One features over two hours of exclusive extras including “The Road to ‘American Gods’” documentary, six behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentary on the premiere and season finale episodes, God Squad Video Commentary, and an opportunity to explore the Crocodile Bar in 360 degrees.
During the 2017 New York Comic-Con, Blackfilm.com caught up with Badaki as she spoke briefly on the blu-ray release and being renewed for a second season.
For Badaki, the role represents a big change for the Nigerian native, who’s done a lot of TV appearances on programs such as Criminal Minds, NCIS: New Orleans, and Masters of Sex. She’s basically a new face to many, but will be well-known after she makes her first appearance on the series, which was a Twitter talking moment.
What can we expect on the Blu-ray?
Yetide Badaki: There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff. There’s stuff on the hair and make-up and cinematography and the effects. This is the sort of show that is so packed on every level. There’s nothing that the producers and departments didn’t research to the T. There’s nothing that people didn’t pure their hearts and souls into. There’s so much that goes into creating this show and we are such a family. We get to divide deeper into the elements that makes the show.
How happy are you that the series was renewed for a second season?
YB: That happened as soon as the second episode came and that doesn’t happen all the time. It shows that Starz has a lot of passion for this project. It’s a great feeling to know that you can continue to play in this sandbox with this character.
BLU-RAY / DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
- “The Road to ‘American Gods’” Documentary
- “Title Gods” Featurette
- “‘American Gods’ Origins” Featurette
- “Old Gods” Featurette
- “New Gods” Featurette
- “What Is ‘American Gods?’” Featurette
- “Book vs. Show” Featurette
- God Squad Video Documentary
- Explore the Crocodile Bar in 360 Degrees with Commentary by Cast and Crew
- Audio Commentary with Cast and Crew on the Premiere and Finale Episodes
o Episode 101 with Creators-Writers Bryan Fuller and Michael Green and Director David Slade
o Episode 101 with Actors Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle
o Episode 108 God Squad Video with Actors Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Yetide Badaki, Bruce Langley, and Orlando Jones
