Marilyn Manson cast as death metal singer in American Gods season 3

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The Neil Gaiman-inspired Starz series American Gods lost season 1 showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green over creative and budgetary issues, and replacement showrunner Jesse Alexander ran into creative issues during season 2, but a third season is now moving forward under new showrunner Charles "Chic" Eglee… who has found an interesting role for Marilyn Manson to play on the show.

Eglee confirmed to Deadline that Manson will be joining the cast of American Gods for a four episode stint as the bloodthirsty Johan Wengren, "lead singer of the Viking death metal band Blood Death." Even if you're not a fan of Manson, it's tough to find fault with that casting.

Manson has racked up multiple acting credits over the years, including playing characters on six episodes of both Sons of Anarchy and Salem. The image above comes from the film LET ME MAKE YOU A MARTYR.

Eglee had this to say about the casting: 

As a long-time admirer of his estimable talent as an author, artist, musician and actor, it is dope indeed to be working with Mr. Manson in Season 3 of American Gods. Bringing his specific energy, wit and boundless enthusiasm for all-things-Neil Gaiman to the role of Johan, a Norse ‘berserker’ in service to Odin, his performance promises to be disturbing, original and uniquely entertaining."

The cast of American Gods also includes Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday, Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon, Emily Browning as Laura Moon, Crispin Glover as Mr. World, Bruce Langley as Technical Boy, Chris Obi as Anubis, Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya, Demore Barnes as Mr. Ibis, Mousa Kraish as The Jinn, Omid Abtahi as Salim, Orlando Jones as Mr. Nancy, Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney, Peter Stormare as Czernobog, Yetide Badaki as Bilquis, Kahyun Kim as Media, Dean Winters as Mr. Town, Devery Jacobs as Sam Black Crow, and Sakina Jaffrey as Mama-Ji.

The series centers on a conflict between the Old Gods and the New Gods.