HBO has committed to an ambitious, six-season television series to be produced by Tom Hanks’ Playtone Productions, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

HBO has greenlighted six seasons of 10 to 12 one-hour episodes of “American Gods,” based on Neil Gaiman’s bestseller of the same name. The show explores the question "are you a god if no one believes in you?"

Hanks and partner Gary Goetzman with executive produce along with Bob Richardson. Gaiman has signed on as writer and executive producer.

The series is expected to cost $35 million to $40 million per season to produce. HBO hopes to premiere "American Gods" in 2013.

According to the story: “Rich in religious folklore that spanned millennia and featuring deities from Greek and Nordic mythology, and even the Judeo-Christian monotheistic God making an appearance, in the contemporary U.S., ‘American Gods’ will be effects-heavy to do justice to the awe-inspiring power of the divine beings.”

Said Goetzman: “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.”