Kristen Chenoweth has confirmed she will not return for the second season of “American Gods.”
The actress, who played Easter in the first season of Starz’s Neil Gaiman adaptation, revealed in an interview with TVLine on Monday that she would be departing the series out of solidarity with original showrunner Bryan Fuller.
“I couldn’t come back without him,” said Chenoweth, who previously collaborated with Fuller on the ABC drama “Pushing Daisies.” “It wouldn’t be right.”
This is just the latest bit of behind-the-scenes upheaval on the second season of the fantasy drama ahead of its return next year.
Last month, it was reported that “American Gods” showrunner Jesse Alexander was sidelined from actively working on the series just months after taking over for original showrunners Fuller and Michael Green exited the series in February.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alexander had “been asked not to sit in on editing, be involved on set or participate in any other areas of production or postproduction.” He will retain an executive producer credit on the second season.
Along with the showrunner shakeup, “American Gods” has seen casting changes going into its sophomore year, with Gillian Anderson replaced by Kahyun Kim, and the additions of Dean Winters and Devery Jacobs.