Twilighter Cam Gigandet has signed on to join the even paler Paul Bettany in comic book horror-western adaptation Priest - and this time it's to slay some vampires.

The film follows a warrior priest Ivan Isaacs who must find his kidnapped niece Gena in a world riddled with vampires and annihilated by the war between them and the humans fighting back. Based on a Korean comic, created by Hyung Min-woo for TokyoPop, Priest combines supernatural fantasy, Catholic iconography and Western themes.

Gigandet's character will be the niece's boyfriend, a junior sheriff who joins Bettany's Priest in his quest, and is coincidentally part vampire... not that he's typecast at all.

Gigandet, who is currently working on thriller The Roommate with Gossip Girl Leighton Meester, has been a very popular boy since the Twilight juggernaught hit teenagers everywhere. Last week he was announced as joining high-school comedy Easy A with Emma Stone and Amanda Bynes, as well as picking up an MTV Movie Award for best fight in his role as bad-boy vampire James - an accolade he has won two years in a row, the first time for his ruckus in Never Back Down.

Priest directed by Scott Stewart is scheduled for release in September 2010, so filming should be kicking off any time now.