Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Vertigo comic book series “Preacher” is officially on its way to the small screen! AMC and Sony TV have today officially confirmed the news that broke last fall that sees This is the End co-writers and directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg executive producing the series. They will also provide the screenplay for the pilot.
“Preacher” follows Reverend Jesse Custer, a tough Texas preacher who has lost his faith, has learned that God has left Heaven and abandoned His responsibilities. He finds himself the only person capable of tracking God down, demanding answers, and making Him answer for His dereliction of duty. Accompanying Jesse on his journey is his former girlfriend and a friendly vampire who seems to prefer a pint in the pub to the blood of the innocent. On his tail is one of the most iconic bad guys in print – an immortal, unstoppable killing machine named the Saint of Killers – a western lone gunman archetype whose sole purpose is to hunt and kill Jesse.
“This is a great piece of material for AMC, and we’re thrilled to begin working with the creative team behind it to make another iconic AMC series,” said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s EVP of original programming, production and digital content.
“This is amazing!” say Rogen and Goldberg. “We’ve tried for seven years to work on ‘Preacher’ and we’re so psyched AMC is finally letting us. It is our favorite comic of all time, and we’re going to do everything we can to do it right. Humperdoo!”
Garth Ennis said, “Steve Dillon and I are very happy to see ‘Preacher’ being developed for TV, which seems a much more natural home for the story than a 2-hour movie. Between them, Sony TV and AMC have brought viewers two of my favorite shows with ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Mad Men,’ and it’s exactly that kind of creative commitment and courage that ‘Preacher’ needs. Obviously it’s taken a while, but Ken Levin along with Neal Moritz and his team refused to give up, long after the point when I myself grew skeptical, and their unrelenting enthusiasm for the project has gotten us where we need to be. I’m particularly impressed that Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Sam Catlin understand ‘Preacher’ fully — meaning they get it for what it is, not some vague approximation. All in all, it looks like ‘Preacher’ can now be brought to TV in a way that I’d previously not have thought possible, and I very much appreciate that Steve and I have been included in the conversation in the way that we have.”
“Breaking Bad” producer Sam Catlin will be the series’ showrunner and will also executive produce alongside Rogen, Goldberg, Vivian Cannon, Ken Levin, Ori Marmur, Neal Moritz and Jason Netter.
