By By Andrew Ardizzi Jun 15, 2011 in Entertainment Tom Hanks' Playtone production company is producing a six-season adaptation of Neil Gaiman's award winning novel "American Gods" for HBO. Each season of the series, expected to debut in 2013, will consist of 10-12 episodes with a budget of $35-40 million per season. "American Gods," published in 2001, surmises the existence of gods and mythological entities is dependent on whether we believe in them. The book presents a landscape where the power of these gods wanes resulting from a lack of belief in the old gods in favour of the gods of the contemporary era - media, celebrity, technology and drugs. The novel itself is a blend of Americana, fantasy, ancient lore and modern mythology, all centering on a mysterious character named Shadow. “There are some crazy things in there. We’ll probably be doing more effects in there than it’s been done on a television series,” Gary Goetzman, Hanks' Playtone partner, told The report said the series will delve into the rich, religious folklore from the novelization and will feature deities from greek and nordic mythology, in addition to the Judeo-Christian monotheistic God. The Playtone Company, founded by Hanks and Goetzman in 1996, is an American production company heavily involved in film and television, having produced Castaway, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mamma Mia, My Big Fat Greek Life and Band of Brothers, in addition to various television and film soundtracks in the past. The company's future projects include Major Matt Mason, a live-action family film about space adventure, as well as a film version of the Broadway musical American Idiot, based off the 2003 Green Day album of the same name. The series, currently in development, is one of a handful of projects Hanks' production company is working on.Each season of the series, expected to debut in 2013, will consist of 10-12 episodes with a budget of $35-40 million per season."American Gods," published in 2001, surmises the existence of gods and mythological entities is dependent on whether we believe in them. The book presents a landscape where the power of these gods wanes resulting from a lack of belief in the old gods in favour of the gods of the contemporary era - media, celebrity, technology and drugs.The novel itself is a blend of Americana, fantasy, ancient lore and modern mythology, all centering on a mysterious character named Shadow.“There are some crazy things in there. We’ll probably be doing more effects in there than it’s been done on a television series,” Gary Goetzman, Hanks' Playtone partner, told the Hollywood Reporter The report said the series will delve into the rich, religious folklore from the novelization and will feature deities from greek and nordic mythology, in addition to the Judeo-Christian monotheistic God.The Playtone Company, founded by Hanks and Goetzman in 1996, is an American production company heavily involved in film and television, having produced Castaway, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mamma Mia, My Big Fat Greek Life and Band of Brothers, in addition to various television and film soundtracks in the past.The company's future projects include Major Matt Mason, a live-action family film about space adventure, as well as a film version of the Broadway musical American Idiot, based off the 2003 Green Day album of the same name. More about HBO, Tom hanks, Neil gaiman, American Gods, Playtone Productions Hbo Tom hanks Neil gaiman American Gods Playtone Productions