The screen adaptation of Garth Ennis’ Preacher has been stuck in development hell for years. The latest incarnation has I Am Number Four helmer D.J. Caruso stepping up to the plate to direct the flick. /Film first mentioned his name in connection to the film last week, and now Caruso has announced the deal on his Twitter page. We have independently confirmed that the deal is in the final stages.
Preacher has had a rough road to the screen. Back in 2008, HBO decided to nix an adaptation directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil). Then Sam Mendes got into the director’s chair with John August set to write the script. Mendes eventually moved on to do the 23rd James Bond film and it’s unknown whether or not Caruso will use August’s script. Hit the jump for my thoughts on Caruso getting the gig.
Coming off the success of Disturbia and Eagle Eye, Caruso had a hot 2009 and was attached to an adaptation of Y: The Last Man (which he eventually left), the video game Dead Space, and was in talks to adapt the non-fiction novel, The Art of Making Money: The Story of a Master Counterfeiter. A couple weeks ago, he was reportedly circling an adaptation of Josh Bazell’s suspense novel Beat the Reaper.
Which now brings us to Preacher and a sign of resignation on my part. For those unfamiliar with the Preacher, the comic series follows young preacher Jesse Custer (J.C., har har) who gains the power to speak with the voice of God, thus forcing anyone who hears him to do what he says. He’s surrounded by a colorful cast of characters including his assassin ex-girlfriend, a vampire, the Saint of Killers (who can kill anyone), a deformed man calling himself “Arseface”, and a special agent who eventually ends up looking like a giant penis.
There’s an irreverence to Preacher that I haven’t seen from Caruso’s recent work. He excitedly tweets that he’s “going back to the dark side” (presumably referring to his 2002 film The Salton Sea which I admittedly haven’t seen). But it’s not just that the series is vulgar and darkly comic. There’s a madcap energy to the books, like the countless images of people being astonished that their bodies are being shot to pieces. I’m not a die-hard fan of the books, but they require a spark of creativity that isn’t present in Disturbia, Eagle Eye, and I Am Number Four. Caruso strikes me more as a journeyman director and I’m not sure how he plans to bring Preacher to life beyond being pumped about returning to the “dark side”.
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It’s going to be a train wreck. A violent and inevitable one.
So, basically confirming what D.J. Caruso already said??
No one is sure if that’s actually his twitter account.
This article pretty much confirms it is. Seems like one hell of a fake twitter account if it was right about a final deal being placed…
Do yourself a favor and check out THE SALTON SEA, Matt. It’s a great movie. Based on that I think Caruso can handle PREACHER.
This could only lead to disappointed fans, anger from religious people who are unfamiliar with the comic, and disinterest from everyone else. I am a fan and I’d like to see an adaptation, but unless talented people are behind it, I look upon the project with dread. An FX or HBO miniseries would be a perfect fit, but if that’s not to be, then I’d rather it die in development hell.
“This could only lead to disappointed fans, anger from religious people who are unfamiliar with the comic, and disinterest from everyone else.”
It’s The Golden Compass all over again.
MATT!!
Thank you for your comments. You are spot on. We have established over the years that certain directors make certain types of films. Preacher is NOT a D.J. Caruso film! That’s just the same as Giving Mark Steven Johnson daredevil and ghost Rider. It’s a reason not to go to the movies. If the studios didn’t have their children picking directors for great potential movies out of a hat they would recognize that Joe Johnson is F*cking Cap which is now screwing over a good director,Whedon. I digress, let’s get back to the point. Fincher, Aronofsky, Guillermo Del Toro, Mendes and so many other really great dark directors can understand this story. Can someone please make a phone call and tell the big guys, they should cut the shit and get back to good directors with great scripts.
Thanks,
Managment
http://www.mconstantpictures.com
I believe there are plenty of directors capable of doing Preacher justice. However, I feel the subject matter is so volatile that the chances of it being done correctly are slim to none – regardless of whomever is hired to helm it.
Caruso would you please stay the hell away from all of my favorite comic books! I’d rather peel my own face off then see you helm Preacher but I guess that’s better than you destroying Y the Last Man.
re “better than you destroying Y the Last Man” Agreed. I really wish they wouldnt adapt the Last Man series to make a movie series, its so good it does not need a film version which will probably be a b movie series at best. But this is what hollywood does, take great books and comics and make them into crap films, more often than not.