With all the hype surrounding HBO’s upcoming series ‘Game of Thrones,’ the cable network is now looking to negotiate a deal to adapt another fantasy novel, American Gods, slashfilm.com is reporting. The book’s author, Neil Gaiman, is set to pen the script with cinematographer Robert Richardson.

American Gods follows ex-convict Shadow who is hired to be the bodyguard for an old con man, Mr. Wednesday. The story also focuses on the power struggle between old and new gods, with their deities playing a part in the struggle.

Richardson, who has won Oscars for ‘The Aviator’ and ‘JFK,’ reportedly brought the idea to adapt American Gods to Tom Hanks and Playtone’s Gary Goetzman. Hanks and Goetzman like the idea, and presented it to HBO. The news comes after two of Gaiman’s other books, ‘Coraline’ and ‘Stardust,’ became moderately successful at the box office. He has also written for television, including the upcoming Sandman series.

Written by: Karen Benardello