If you are a fan of fantasy reality TV shows, it is highly possible that Good Omens might be on your list of favorites. Starring Michael Sheen, David Tennant, and a huge ensemble cast from Jon Hamm to Benedict Cumberbatch, the series has been incredibly well received. From earning praise on its writing to acting, it is an absolutely unmissable one for fans of the genre.
Based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, its third and anticipated season is now facing a storm of controversy. At the center is its creator/showrunner, Gaiman, who has been accused of s*xual abuse by several women. Although the author has denied all allegations, maintaining his ‘romances’ were ‘consensual’, these revelations have placed Gaiman under intense scrutiny.
At the same time, these chilling accusations have impacted Good Omens as well, whose season 3 will suffer the most due to Gaiman’s involvement and alleged actions. As fans await the release of the series’ season 3, here is all you need to know about the Neil Gaiman controversy, how it has impacted Good Omens, and more.
The Neil Gaiman Controversy: Everything You Need to Know
An author, comic book creator, screenwriter, and voice actor, Neil Gaiman has been a staple of ‘the entertainment’ world for a long, long time. Having dabbled in several genres, from fantasy to horror and comedy, the author’s work has been widely hailed as some of the best fantasy works of all time. Having written novels like Good Omens, Stardust, and American Gods, and comic books like The Sandman, he is a recipient of several notable accolades and medals.
Given his reputation and work, it was a shock when the UK-based media Tortoise Media published exclusive podcasts of women accusing the author of s*xual abuse and more. First published in July 2024, four episodes detail the horror these two women faced while allegedly being with the author. The first woman is Scarlett, 23, who alleged that the author s*xually assaulted her in February 2022 when she worked as a nanny for his kids. The second woman is K, who met Gaiman at a book signing back in 2003 and was 18 at the time of the alleged assault.
Both these women allege that the author engaged in rough and painful s*xual acts with them without consent. In August two more women had come forward, detailing their painful ordeal to Tortoise Media. As per his third alleged victim, the author requested s*xual favors in return for letting the woman and her three children live at his New York property and later forming her to sign an NDA as well as paying her $275,000 to cope with the stress of their relationship. She was later kicked out of the property when she stopped returning his advances.
His fourth alleged victim revealed that the assault occurred in the 1980s when they were both in their 20s. The author allegedly jumped on her, pushed her on the couch, and forcibly kissed her. A fifth victim, using the pseudonym Claire, made similar shocking revelations in the podcast, Am I Broken: Survivor Stories. A fan who met him at a book signing back in 2012, revealed they had a 10-month-long relationship where once Gaiman made unwanted s*xual advances on her and later apologized, blaming it on his autism diagnosis.
Despite these serious allegations, Neil Gaiman has consistently denied any wrongdoings and continues to maintain that all these ‘relationships’ were always consensual. Amid the ongoing controversy, Gaiman’s works, including Good Omens, are unfortunately caught in the crossfire.
How Neil Gaiman’s Abuse Allegations Have Impacted Good Omens
The abuse allegations against Neil Gaiman have cast a long shadow over the production of Good Omens. The fantasy comedy television series, which features Michael Sheen as angel Aziraphale and Doctor Who’s famed David Tennant as the demon Crowley, the series was renewed for a third season back in December 2023. Said to be in pre-production since then, the s*xual abuse allegations against Gaiman have affected both the show’s production and its fanbase.
Given how The Sandman writer is both the creator and showrunner of the series, his involvement has negatively impacted the series. Back when the accusations first aired, the pre-production of the third and final season of Good Omens was reported to have come to a halt, as Deadline had reported. Soon afterward, it was learned that the author had offered to step back from his involvement in the series’ final season, where he served as the executive producer, writer, and sole showrunner, after Douglas Mackinnon had departed in 2023 (via Deadline).
Since then, many fans feared the show would inevitably end up being canceled. But, despite the controversy and production halt, there is some good news after all. After announcing a pause in productions, Amazon has decided to go forward with the third season of Good Omens. The only drawback is that the said third season will be comprised of one single 90-minute-long episode, as Variety reports.
While Gaiman has contributed to the writing of the series finale, he will no longer be involved once the production starts again. Expected to shoot in early 2005, in scenic Scotland, Gaiman has also been dropped as the series’ executive producer. Apart from the effects on Good Omens, Gaiman’s controversies and allegations have impacted his other works as well. Netflix’s The Sandman series (which he created and is based on his comic books of the same name) appears to have distanced itself from the author (see TVLine) and Disney has paused the development of the film adaptation of his novel The Graveyard Book.
What Will Good Omens Season Three Be About?
Now that we know for sure that Good Omens is returning to our TV screens for one last time, albeit as a single 90-minute-long episode, we can’t help but wonder what the series finale will be about. The first season of the series, set in 2019, followed David Tennant’s demon Crowley and Michael Sheen’s angel Aziraphale enjoying a good friendship despite their kinds’ being fervent archenemies. But their good times are affected when Armageddon is set to take place, and they work together to stop the arrival of the Antichrist for the sake of their peaceful existence on the planet.
The second season led to the entry of Archangel Gabriel (portrayed by Jon Hamm), who arrives at Aziraphale’s bookstore devoid of his memories. Going beyond the original source aka the book of the same name, the season featured the two unlikely friends working to solve this mysterious puzzle. And now finally the third season is coming back, to end the saga for good.
While we do not exactly know what the series finale will look like and what points of the novel it will cover, back in December 2023, when announcing the third season, Neil Gaiman had remarked (via BBC),
Season One was all about averting Armageddon, dangerous prophecies, and the End of the World. Season Two was sweet and gentle, although it may have ended less joyfully than a certain Angel and Demon might have hoped. Now in Season Three, we will deal once more with the end of the world. The plans for Armageddon are going wrong. Only Crowley and Aziraphale working together can hope to put it right. And they aren’t talking.
Since Gaiman helped write the series finale, it will definitely cover the above-mentioned storyline. But since the show will only have 90 minutes to give an epic conclusion, we anticipate the tale will be considerably cut short and reduced. Nonetheless, we are geared up and excited to see what the future looks like for the fussy angel Aziraphale and the fast-living demon Crowley.
Excepted to begin filming next year, the release date of the final season/episode is yet to be revealed, but it will premiere on Prime Video.
Good Omens seasons one and two are available to be streamed on Prime Video.
