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Sam Mendes Talks Preacher
Exclusive: Director on comic book movie
07 November 2008 | Written by Chris Hewitt |
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Empire recently sat down with Sam Mendes for a nice chat, during which we asked the Brit director about the state of play on Mendes’ next movie, a just-announced adaptation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s controversial but brilliant comic book, Preacher.
So, Sam, what’s the skinny?
“I’d love to make Preacher,” he smiles. “But there’s no script.”
But… but… the Internet told us that…
“This is a typical Variety announcement,” Mendes added. “‘Mendes to direct Preacher’ – I wish! Basically they should have written, ‘Mendes in development with Preacher’. What I’m doing is, I’ve gotta find a script. I’ve just got to get it written.”
Nevertheless, Mendes did go into some detail about his attraction to the project, which in pure thumbnail terms, is about a rebellious preacher called Jesse Custer and his quest to find God and make him accountable for crimes against humanity.
“It's brilliant, it's an incredible twisted vision,” he said of the 66-issue story. “There's so much of it you couldn't possibly fit it all into one movie. It's just about what you keep and what you leave out, and how you structure the story. But just to have that toy set again, being able to paint on a big canvas and to say ‘I am gonna do crazy crane shots and massive action sequences again because I want to,’ it's exciting..”
Understandably, given the fledgling status of the project, Mendes isn’t too keen to talk about specifics, but we did ask him about one casting issue – namely, the frequent appearances of John Wayne, whose ghost acts as a counsel to Jesse throughout.
“That's an interesting one, I wonder what the John Wayne estate's gonna say about that,” teased Mendes. “We'll see, we’ll have to get them on side…” 
Click the image to read our beginner's guide to Preacher |
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| Cynical... Moi!? | Now what did I say when this was orignally announced a week or so back... Pinch of salt time and as stated above, it's about as solid a project as Dub-ya's time in office. This movie will never happen - Mendes has said it himself - there ain't even a script!! Will sit back and wait to see who they wheel out next as the next 'definate' director to take this to the screen...! :O, More
Posted by losthighway at 14:21 on 08 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | I've read the comics and i say no! | I don't like the idea of a preacher film even though i've heard that he's a good director or producer,i'm just worried that the insane characters that are in preacher will be toned down. More
Posted by anakin solo at 12:41 on 08 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Sam Elliott for the Saint of Killers | I havent read the comic books but from the little spread don here on Preacher the bit on this guy sounds like Elliot to a T, that and the fact that the man with maybe the greatest voice in history should be somewhere in this film. More
Posted by JohnClark at 01:41 on 08 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | I have never read these comic books, but now I am so intrigued that I am going to. There is a lot of passion out there from fans of Preacher whether any director can do the material justice. How can you make just one movie from a whole series of comics? Like other commentators maybe more than one movie is required. More
Posted by paganprincess at 23:31 on 07 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Shouldn't be a film.... | I really don't think that Preacher should be made into a film.
The only way that I can see justice done to this story is for it to be made into a series by someone like HBO, who have been involved in the sometimes controversial and invariably brilliant shows like e, Band of Brothers, Rome, Oz, Deadwood Theranos./b]
Cast wise
uster -Sewell (if he was younger)
'Hare -http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH/2584 80~Majandra-Delfino-Posters.jpg]Majandra DelfinoCassidy - More
Posted by lovemunkey187 at 17:41 on 07 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Be Very Careful | If anyone is going to make this film, i pray (no pun intended) that they tread carefully. It is one of the greatest comic series ever, which touches on a fair few touchy subjects. My concern is that even a kids film like the Golden Compass removed all the references to god and religion that Pullman wrote, so I just hope that this isnt sanitized. How you would get half of the content past any censors is beyond me. Sometimes its better left on the page. More
Posted by munkimafia at 16:28 on 07 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Can't make this in one film | It has to made as two or even 3 films. There is no way you can fit it all into one. Still I am mega excited even tho nothing is confirmed yet. More
Posted by cj5ar at 13:40 on 07 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Perhaps a little too obscure for most...... | But Mendes made a very good job of Road to Perdition, so we live in hope huh? BTW, a new vid-blog of WATCHMEN is up at myspace, period detail looks awesome, can't wait for that one..and finally there's a Pink Panther 2 trailer at Yahoo assuming you care( I regret nothing people) More
Posted by boredbluekoala at 00:34 on 07 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Preacher | Maybe an animated movie. There is SO much good stuff in this book I just dont thnk 3 movies let alone one could do it justice. Maybe some things are best left untouched. If it does go ahead though Im sure Ill be first inline More
Posted by rsh1978 at 20:57 on 06 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | is nothing sacred anymore? | ok i love comics and i love comic book movies but there are certain ones i wish would just stay cult within comic books, they're already going to screw up Watchmen and that's bad enough but preacher! why? hollywood needs to start coming up with it's own ideas instead of nicking everything. Preacher is one of the best peices of comic writing ever and there going to screw that up for a quick buck. for shame hollywood, for shame More
Posted by mike_390 at 19:16 on 06 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | I pray for Preacher. | Please let it happen. Like the previous news story of Preacher I commented on I love to to see either Sam Rockwell or Walton 'Shane from The Shield' Goggins as Jesse, Patrick Stewart as Starr, and this maybe left-field casting but as Saint of Killers has barely any lines, just a massive bulk of pure eternal death-dealing carnage-wielding menace, than how about the guy who wrestles as The Undertaker as he's huge, and has that gravely voice of death needed for the role. A lot of people would say C More
Posted by Taz69 at 18:20 on 06 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | eric Bana for Jesse custer | well, yes More
Posted by Hughezy at 17:05 on 06 November 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | |
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