AMC’s next comic book adaptation is quickly assembling a solid cast. News of the latest addition to Preacher hails from Deadline, who report that W. Earl Brown (Deadwood, Scream) has signed on to appear as one of the titular chappie’s most reviled enemies.
Known in the comics as Jesse Custer’s biggest adversary, Sheriff Hugo Root comes to fisticuffs with the preacher on more than one occasion, even roping in his son Eugene Root (aka Arseface) into his agenda of hate. While it’s his grisly fate that spurs his bumbling son into action, his earlier run-ins with Custer ought to be granted a substantial chunk of screentime.
In the initial rundown from Deadline, his character description suggests he may undergo somewhat of a transformation from page to screen. He’s dubbed “a flinty-eyed, conspiracy-credulous redneck who is not a fool,” which sounds about right, but he also “has a vulnerability to him.”
Developed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Preacher takes inspiration from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s cult classic comic series. The main thrust of the story follows Custer (Dominic Cooper) and his sidekicks, ex-girlfriend Tulip (Ruth Negga) and his best buddy Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun), as they embark on a mission to track down God. Along the way they encounter baddies mined from the panels, including the nefarious father-son Root duo, and newly-created villains in the shape of Vyla Quinncannon (Elizabeth Perkins). On hand to help the core trio is waitress and single mother Emily Woodrow (Lucy Griffiths).
Cameras are expected to roll shortly on the pilot for Preacher ahead of its debut in 2016.
Based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s twisted ‘90s comic book series, Preacher is about Jesse Custer, a conflicted Preacher in a small Texas town who merges with a creature that has escaped from heaven and develops the ability to make anyone do anything he says. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip, and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, the three embark on a journey to literally find God.
