So Sam Mendes has signed on to direct an adaptation of classic comic-book series Preacher (read our exclusive Preacher story on the very latest happenings with that project). For those familiar with the Garth Ennis/Steve Dillon-created series, Preacher, this marks the (hopefully) beginning of the final step in a long, long, long process which has taken the best part of a decade, involving several different directors, formats and studios.
For the uninitiated, though, we’ve put together this guide to all things Preacher: the who, what, when, where and why should I care that will answer any and all questions you may have, and hopefully leave you as excited as we are.
Preacher is a comic book series that ran between 1995 and 2000 over 66 issues. Written by Belfast-born genius Garth Ennis, with superb artwork by Steve Dillon (and wonderful covers by Glenn Fabry), Preacher is regarded by comic book and literary fans world-wide as a landmark achievement. A dark marriage of the mythos of the American West with Gothic, punky values, Preacher boasts dialogue as sharp and profound as Tarantino’s best, outlandish characters who gradually and movingly reveal three dimensions, and plot turns that not even God Himself could see coming. It’s thought-provoking, laugh out loud funny, outrageously violent and, given its story, sure to be as controversial as Dogma and The Passion Of The Christ put together.
The story follows Jesse Custer, a disaffected small town preacher who is accidently possessed by a heavenly being known as Genesis - the product of a union between an angel and a demon - in an incident which kills his entire congregation and flattens his church. Empowered by the bond, and with new found ability he calls The Word (he can make anyone do anything he wants by simply commanding it) Jesse decides to find God – who has now deserted Heaven and is on the run from this terrifying new power – and make him accountable for his actions. Joining Jesse on his quest is ex-girlfriend and all-round firecracker, Tulip O'Hare, and hard-drinking Irish vampire, Cassidy. Yes, vampire. It’s that sort of book.
If Watchmen is the Citizen Kane of graphic novels, then Preacher is the works of Sergio Leone and John Ford all rolled into one. It is epic in scope, a sprawling story covering the entire United States, and plays out like a classic Western. Ennis' themes are interwoven with the lifeblood of Americana, at once a poetic love song to the vast landscape of the great nation while also damning of everything she has let herself become. Preacher trudges through the debauched underbelly of civilization, as Ennis probes the motivations and dichotomies of the human psyche, the place of religion in the modern world and its effect on the subconscious of society, the power of love against all things, and ultimately, the death of the American Dream. Deep stuff, indeed.
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Casting
Preacher: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Robert Carlyle, Matt Damon.
Cassidy: Kevin McKidd, Douglas Henshall.
Tulip: Megan Fox
Saint of Killers: Lance Henriksen, Ted Levine.
... Read More
I think Josh Holloway would make a good jesse he is very like the character, would obviulsi need a hair styling or a wig but character wise, scarlett johansson could pull of tulip well , kevin spacey as herr starr could work , cant see past the idea of colin farrel or gary oldman as cassidy. adam baldwin as jody ... Read More
Jason Patric as Jesse, Kiefer Sutherland as Cassidy, or if you want a real Irishman Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Ali Larter as Tulip. Ron Perlman is big and gruff enough to be the Saint of Killers. A bald Matthew Kelly would make a great Herr Starr. Sam mendes will be a bit too sentimental, Kevin Smith would be a better choice. ... Read More
WARNING - SPOILERS CONTINUE!!
... in Masada and in need of rescuing.
The New Orleans episode has some essential elements in it, not least the truth about the Saint of Killers. You could probably lose the wannabe vampires, but if they're not there there's no threat or tension in that whole sequence, plus it's a great set piece (the graveyard fight) that we would be denied.
The whole Arseface story is a problem, I think and I wouldn't be surprised to see the... Read More
Having recently read Preacher for the first time I am seriously excited about a movie being made from it. As I am also excited about any new Sam Mendes movie I suppose that's double excitement.
However, I am a little worried about the sheer amount of plot involved. Considering that "the plot" is always related as Jesse searching for God to make him answerable for crimes against humanity, there are a lot of episodes that really have nothing to do with that. While some of these episod... Read More
Gary Oldman is surely a shoe-in for Cassidy. Go check him out as a vampire in the BMW shorts collection if you're still not sure. Hell - he IS Cassidy in that movie.
Now onto JC. It's got to be our man Clive Owen. Cool, calm and utterly collected... ... Read More
Ben Affleck for JC, Paddy Considine for Cass, Tom Hanks as SoK, Kate Hudson for Tulip and Liam Neeson as Starr. Chuck in Elijah Wood as Arseface and hire James Gandolfini as the Allfather and you can have my 5 quid... ... Read More
Really worried about the idea of a film-Sam Mendes did a great job with Road to Perdition,but Preacher has so much going on.
It needs to be done as a series or a trilogy,at least.I dont want another comic/graphic novel turned into a piece of shit film.
Jesse:Jason Patric Tulip:Rosanna Arquette has the look but the voice is all wrong.I agree that Jessica Biel could pull it off Cassidy:Colin Farrel or Tim Roth SoK:Why is Clint too old?The Saint was killed way back in the 1800's so he's going ... Read More
L: ElSloano64
Preacher the comic is crap! It`s juvenile wish fulfillment for nerdy bookish sorts who have to live vicariously through fantasy literature - the `hero` has a voice who can make ANYBODY do ANYTHING (rather handy power, that), the `hero` also has a very sexy girlfriend (unlike the majority of people who read Preacher/comics in general) and there`s a hard drinking, violent "Oirish" vampire who`s pals with the `hero` and guess what! He swears! A lot!! Wow - really mature an... Read More
L: ElSloano64
Preacher the comic is crap! It`s juvenile wish fulfillment for nerdy bookish sorts who have to live vicariously through fantasy literature - the `hero` has a voice who can make ANYBODY do ANYTHING (rather handy power, that), the `hero` also has a very sexy girlfriend (unlike the majority of people who read Preacher/comics in general) and there`s a hard drinking, violent "Oirish" vampire who`s pals with the `hero` and guess what! He swears! A lot!! Wow - really mature and a... Read More
It's obvious when you think about it:
Jesse: Ben Stiller.
Tulip: Owen Wilson.
Cassidy: Jack Black.
Starr: Will Ferrel.
Saint of Killers: Leslie Nielsen.
Arseface: Tom Cruise.
Simple. ... Read More
Preacher the comic is crap! It`s juvenile wish fulfillment for nerdy bookish sorts who have to live vicariously through fantasy literature - the `hero` has a voice who can make ANYBODY do ANYTHING (rather handy power, that), the `hero` also has a very sexy girlfriend (unlike the majority of people who read Preacher/comics in general) and there`s a hard drinking, violent "Oirish" vampire who`s pals with the `hero` and guess what! He swears! A lot!! Wow - really mature and adult! Typi... Read More
I loved Road to Perdition, although they have completely different looks, i am sure Sam will do a great job. I am sad this cant be a miniseries on HBO or something like the John Adams series, because i am sure awesome story lines are going to be dropped. Will they even have Arseface?
As for castig i think James Franco could be awesome
Tulip: Eva Mendes (not the exact look, but the right idea), Jamie King, Gemma Arterton, or Taryn Manning
Cassidy: i love the idea of Ewan McGregor or R... Read More
I'm a big fan of both Watchmen and the Preacher series, but I'm not so sure about these casting ideas! I think they're gonna need someone a little more grittier than James Franco. Also, Jessica Biel has the look, but does she have the fiesty attitude that Tulip's character posseses. As for Colin Farrell, well, that was just an obvious choice really right? However, what are they gonna do about length? surely the series is just too long for film. I always thought a T.V mini series would be far bet... Read More
Just because Sam Elliott was a cowboy once doesn't mean he should be every cowboy ever. Bruce Spence for SoK!
Oh, and I second Michael Smiley, although he might be too Irish for the American audience to understand. ... Read More
Not sure about Jesse, it's a pretty tough role to pull off, but ever since I read the comic books I have always imagined Michael Smiley (Tyres in spaced) as Cassidy.
Back then i thought that would never happen, but as he keeps popping up in real movies (outpost, the other boleyn girl, perfume) these days i can only hope that this will be the start of the campaign to make it happen.
Tyres for Cassidy! ... Read More
Haven't read the comic but I will be heading promptly out to purchase it. Just from the pictures and the profiles I'm thinking Giovani Ribbisi for Cassidy for some reason... but like I said, not familiar with the source material ... Read More
But I think True Romance Patricia Arquette as Tulip (or Juliette Lewis or Asia Argento). Alan Cumming as Cassidy. I think a roughed up Hugh Jackman might work as jesse but definitely not James Franco. I don't know the aforementioned German actor , but Patrick Stewart would be a great Herr Starr. I just wish Marlon Brando was still alive to be the all father. Daniel Radcliffe gets my vote as a post-Harry Potter arseface. And while t'is a pity about Clint, I think Scott Glenn or Ed Harris. Sam She... Read More
But I think True Romance Patricia Arquette as Tulip (or Juliette Lewis or Asia Argento). Alan Cumming as Cassidy. I think a roughed up Hugh Jackman might work as jesse but definitely not James Franco. I don't know the aforementioned German actor , but Patrick Stewart would be a great Herr Starr. I just wish Marlon Brando was still alive to be the all father. Daniel Radcliffe gets my vote as a post-Harry Potter arseface. And while t'is a pity about Clint, I think Scott Glenn or Ed Harris. Sam She... Read More
Deffinately think sam elliot should be the Saint of Killers. Clint would still be my favourite choice for the role (You can see he's still got it from the trailers for his new flick gran torino)
As for the others not so sure about the choices put forward here. a bit more thinking is needed. ... Read More
