With fantasy franchises that were designed to replace the heavy hitters (Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings) not quite working out (The Golden Compass, The Seeker, Eragon, etc), it seems fantasy may be finding a new home. HBO have not only found success with the adult vampire show True Blood (Season Four kicks off this summer) but tonight sees the premiere of Game of Thrones, a mythic medieval story. And according to Deadline, HBO are continuing their trend with plans to adapt the Neil Gaiman novel American Gods.

American Gods is a novel where ancient mythic gods actually exist, and have moved to the US to wage war with what are considered to be the modern gods of technology, drugs, and celebrity. Prison parolee Shadow is the protagonist thrown into the mix.

It’s unclear if HBO plan to make a set-episode miniseries or a full show, but Tom Hanks will act as executive producer, and the pilot is being co-written by Gaiman and cinematographer Robert Richardson. Gaiman’s work is now hot property, after the moderate successes that were Stardust and Coraline.