AMC is looking to fill the void left by departing dramas Breaking Bad and Mad Men with an adaptation of the graphic novel, Preacher. The network has apparently ordered the show to pilot, based on Garth Ennis' story of a Texas preacher who becomes disillusioned with his belief system after accidentally merging with a supernatural force known as Genesis. The source material isn't afraid to tackle themes of a religious nature alongside other mature elements, making it a potentially controversial addition to AMC's programming, which currently boasts The Walking Dead as its biggest draw. In related news, it seems as if none other than Seth Rogen may be involved with bringing Preacher to the small screen in some capacity. Hit the jump for more.
originally brought to our attention the news of AMC ordering a pilot for Preacher. An adaptation of the Vertigo comic has been in the works as far back as "1998 when Garth Ennis wrote a draft of a script and Kevin Smith tried to get Harvey Weinstein to make it." We've got our own string of reports on the project, stretching back to when Sam Mendes (Skyfall) was attached to direct a feature film, to Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) possibly helming, to producer Neal Moritz providing an update. BAD also says they "don't know who is attached to the TV series, but I hear the names are big and impressive." One of those names might be Seth Rogen (via IGN):
Looks like about seven of years of hard work are about to pay off. I may get to bring one of my favourite stories ever to life.
Arseface. John Wayne, The Saint of Killers.
While that second tweet may seem like Rogen is just mad at John Wayne, each of those names are actually characters who appear in the Preacher series. There's Arseface, a disfigured suicide attempt survivor turned rock-star; the recurring apparition of John Wayne who serves as a sort of spiritual guide or conscience; and the Saint of Killers, "a reformed bounty hunter-turned-killer-once-more in the tradition of Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven character, William Munny".
Here's the synopsis from the first book in the Preacher series (via Amazon):
Merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Texan Preacher Jesse Custer becomes completely disillusioned with the beliefs that he had dedicated his entire life to. Now possessing the power of "the word," an ability to make people do whatever he utters, Custer begins a violent and riotous journey across the country. Joined by his gun-toting girlfriend Tulip and the hard drinking Irish vampire Cassidy, the Preacher loses faith in both man and God as he witnesses dark atrocities and improbable calamities during his exploration of America.