Good Omens mini-series casts David Tennant and Michael Sheen

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Back in January, it was announced that Amazon would be making a six episode mini-series based on the Neil Gaiman / Terry Pratchett novel Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, turning "the funniest novel about the end of the world" into "the largest story ever told on television". 

Gaiman has written the adaptation and will serve as showrunner on the mini-series, which 

takes place in 2018 when the Apocalypse is near and Final Judgment is set to descend upon humanity. According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, and tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming war. And… someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist.

As that synopsis makes clear, the casting of fast-living demon Crowley and fussy angel Aziraphale is very important for the Good Omens series, and I would say they've done quite well: Variety revealed and Gaiman confirmed that David Tennant has signed on to play Crowley, with Michael Sheen as Aziraphale.

In a statement, Sheen shared his enthusiasm for the material, the writer, and his co-star: 

I first read ‘Good Omens’ as a teenager and it’s been one of my favourite stories ever since. To be part of the team entrusted with bringing it alive on screen is a bit of a dream come true to be honest. To work alongside Neil, who I think is one of the greatest storytellers of all time, is incredibly exciting. And, just like the rest of the world, I’m a huge fan of David’s so I relish trying to save it with him."

Good Omens is being produced by BBC Studios, Narrativia, and the Blank Corporation, in association with BBC Worldwide, for Amazon Prime Video and the BBC. The six hour long episodes will first premiere on Amazon Prime Video before being broadcast on BBC in the UK.