American Gods season 2 trailer: Ricky Whittle and Ian McShane return as battle intensifies

The conflict between the old gods and the new is about to step up a notch

The trailer for the second season of American Gods has been released.

Almost two years after the first season debuted, the series – an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel – is set to return with a run of episodes that will pick up where its predecessor left off: with Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) fully embracing the conflict between the old gods and the new as the “protector” of Mr Wednesday (Ian McShane).

Returning cast members include Crispin Glover who plays new god leader Mr World, and Emily Browning, the deceased wife of Shadow Moon.

New cast additions include House of Cards's Sakina Jaffrey, who’ll play Hindu goddess Mama-ji, while John Wick actor Dean Winters will play Mr Town.

Since its first season concluded, American Gods saw a shake-up as showunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green stepped down. Jesse Alexander – who served as an executive consultant on TV series Lost – will oversee season two’s eight episodes.

The official synopsis for the show’s return reads: “In season two, the battle moves inexorably toward crisis point as the destinies of gods and men collide. While Mr World plots revenge for the attack against him in season one, Shadow throws in his lot with Wednesday’s attempt to convince the Old Gods of the case for full-out war, with Laura and Mad Sweeney in tow.

“A council at the House on the Rock explodes into chaos, sending deities both Old and New on quests across America that will converge on Cairo, Illinois forcing Shadow to carve out a place as a believer in this strange new world of living gods — a dark world where change demands commitment and faith requires terrible sacrifice.”

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American Gods returns in the US on 10 March and will be streamed on Amazon Prime in the UK the following day.