Sam Mendes To Direct Preacher Graphic novel series gets the go-ahead Source: Variety
Now here's something we did not see coming - Sam Mendes is set to direct the eagerly-awaited big-screen version of Preacher, one of the greatest comic book series of all time.
Created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon, the 66-issue Vertigo series followed Jesse Custer, a small- town preacher imbued with a strange and terrifying power, who travels across America with his hitwoman girlfriend, Tulip, and his Irish vampire best friend, Cassidy. Their aim? To find God for deserting mankind... and kill Him.
Simply crackling with indelible dialogue that out-Tarantinos Tarantino, superbly drawn characters and a storyline that embraces pathos, absurdity, darkness and optimism in equal measure, it's Ennis' masterwork.
But it's also hugely controversial - not just because of the whole 'kill God' thing, but because of Jesse himself. This is a lapsed Preacher - a fightin', drinkin', smokin', swearin' Texas-born'n'raised throwback, a cross between James Dean and Bill Hicks. And the minute this film goes into production, it'll encounter a shitstorm that will make what Kevin Smith went through on Dogma look like a walk in the park.
But Mendes should be able to handle all that, and certainly he looks like the right man for the task. He's drawn to projects teeming with emotional and psychological complexity - which Preacher has in spades - and he's gone down the graphic novel route once before, with Road To Perdition.
It'll also make a nice change for him, after his most recent movie, the 50s-set drama, Revolutionary Road. This one has considerably more action - and people with faces like an arse.
Neal Moritz (I Am Legend) and Jason Netter (Wanted) are producing Preacher for Columbia, and are also developing The Boys, also by Ennis, together.
There is no word on casting as yet, although James Marsden was once attached to the role, when Rachel Talalay was set to direct. Most recently, Daredevil director Mark Steven Johnson was trying to set it up as an ongoing series at HBO, but he had no cast attached.
So who should play the Preacher? Based on looks alone, James Franco gets Empire's vote. Yours?
Does anyone else think this is a bad idea? Why remake such an excellent series in a format that is unlikely to do it justice?
The idea of 9 hour-long episodes might work, but the likelihood of the films improving on, or even matching, the source material is pretty slim. Call me a spoilsport, but I kinda hope this doesn't ever happen. ... Read More
Ok, Herr Starr would be a great role for Stellan Skarsgård.
Cassidy? Tim Roth!
Saint of Killers? Danny Trejo? Graham Greene? Ron Perlman?
I'm leaning towards Christian Bale for Preacher. But he is already batman, which is also DC. How about Ryan Gosling?
Tulip? no idea! ... Read More
..........Keanu Reeves hadn't fucked up Constantine then I would have thought he would have been great in this role but my vote goes to David Tennant. ... Read More
Pretty excited about this, but how many films are they planning? One film won't do it - it will be a confused mess, and that's just to those familiar with it. Are fans going to be telling people how great the comic was when the film was cack? It needs at LEAST a trilogy, but the HBO series idea was definitely the way to go. Anyone else see Matthew McConaughey for Jesse? Dye his hair black, he'll do. Or he would have done a few years ago, anyway. ... Read More
I don't see it being made either. I'm frankly amazed that it's got as far as to have a director solidly attached enough to make news. It'd definitely make a better series than film, but even that... I'll believe it when I see it.
I'm worried enough about how the characters would be written (without an incredibly light touch they could all become truly horrible people) that I'm not that worried about the actors, though they have to find a Tulip with depth and a Cassidy with a convincing Irish ... Read More
L: muchobenny
I still think an HBO series would've been better (although without the input of MSJ) but with Mendes directing this film does now have a fighting chance, at least.
sp;
Mendes is a great pick. Not confident it can be done though
Agreed 100%.
The only good thing about this change is that we have been delivered from Mark Steven Johnsons clutches, as director and writer has almost no redeeming features. His deals in two main types of concept, cheese and ... Read More
I cannot possibly call who would play preacher... I would hope they get an unknown. Saint of Sinners should be played by James Cromwell... and Herr Star should be Willem Defoe ... Read More
L: matthewforan
L: lukeyboy
L: matthewforan
Mate that's almost as bad as his although I do like the idea of Alan Rickman in that role.
Well at least it's only /i] as bad,...i can live with that!
But please, humour us with your choices......
I did I was one of the first to on the first page.
sp;
Oh yeah,...my bad. Yours is shit too! ... Read More
