On this week’s Casting Couch, we tackle my all-time favorite comic: Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher. People have tried to adapt this many times, ranging from a couple movie attempts (including DJ Caruso’s presumably ongoing efforts) to the failed effort to turn it into an HBO series. It’s never become real, which easily could be because of its rather…controversial nature.
But just because it hasn’t been adapted doesn’t mean we can’t take a stab at it, as we look to adapt the first two trade paperbacks of the series into a movie to kick the whole thing off. Check out our casting choices after the jump, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The Director – Sam Mendes
Once upon a time, Sam Mendes was attached to this project. It was the one time I was pleased with where the whole thing, and with good reason. Mendes has had an eclectic career, from the Academy Award winning American Beauty to the adaptation of graphic novel Road to Perdition to the crazy underrated Away We Go, and he’s proven himself as someone who can handle interpersonal narratives as well as anyone. With Jarhead and the upcoming Skyfall, we know he can handle the action. He’d be the best choice to bring Preacher to life.
Jesse Custer – Guy Pearce
This was a tough one, because it’s hard to pin down the age of Jesse Custer. While Guy Pearce may be a little old for the role, we think he’d be a perfect fit in every other way. He’s a wonderfully talented actor with an eclectic selection of movies he’s been in, and his work has highlighted all of the strengths of Jesse as a lead.
Tulip O’Hare – Radha Mitchell
Tulip is a fierce and gorgeous woman who can take care of herself as well as anyone. Sounds a lot like Radha Mitchell’s character in Pitch Black, or damn well near everything else she’s done (perhaps excluding Melinda and Melinda). She’s an amazing actress, and someone I’ve long been a fan of. I honestly can’t imagine anyone handling this role better than Mitchell.
Cassidy – Michael Fassbender
Photoshop some blood onto Fassbender’s face there, and man, isn’t that Cassidy? If you’ve seen Fassbender in anything, you know he can transition from a charming rogue to a malevolent force of evil to someone who just lost his opportunity to be the person he was meant to be at the drop of a hat. That’s just a tip of the iceberg of what you need for Cassidy, and we know for a fact that Fassbender would steal every scene in these movies. He is Cassidy.
Herr Starr – Mads Mikkelsen
Another tough one to cast, but Mikkelsen has proven himself in his career as a very capable actor who plays a pretty mean and intelligent villain. Herr Starr is just that, and with Mikkelsen in the white suit and red tie, we know he could make all aspects of the character work.
Saint of Killers – Clancy Brown
Once upon a time, Clint Eastwood would be the only name to be considered here. But now? The undead angel of death that haunts…well, damn near anyone who crosses his path in the series? It’s a role that ultimate that guy Brown would completely kill. All they have to do is get him in a duster, give him some guns and let him do what he does best.
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God – Ryan Hurst
First off, Hurst will have to do a LOT of exercising to get in shape for this. But really, God doesn’t play a huge role in this arc. Even in the whole series, he only pops up randomly in major moments. So for that role, we need someone who can be a scene stealer and can bring out the weight and physicality of the role. We think Hurst can handle it, just fine.
Marie L’Angelle – Patricia Clarkson
As the sickest woman in all of the South, you need someone who can really bring it from a crazy, moral high ground standpoint. Clarkson is an amazing actress, and in many actresses hands this role might fall into creepy caricature. Not in Clarkson’s. She could absolutely bring this role to life, and make Marie an all-time villain like she should be.
Jody – Kevin Durand
Look at Jody. Then look at Durand. Jody. Durand. Man, Durand is creepy and intense. The good news is, so is Jody. I actually thought Jody would be a really hard one to cast, but when Jess (from the Casting Firm of Graham, Harper and Meylikhov) suggested Durand as the only person for Jody, it really was amazing as to how easy it made it. Case closed.
T.C. – Jackie Earle Haley
It’s kind of creepy how much T.C. and Jackie Earle Haley look like each other. And after Rorschach in Watchmen, it isn’t too big of a jump to play the…animal lover and murderous wretch that is T.C. We know he could make the disgusting mess that is T.C. come to life, even if it would be disgusting and scary to watch happen.
Sheriff Root – Michael Parks
Most of us know Parks for his role as lawman in Tarantino movies, and as Arseface’s dad and the sort of villain from the first arc Sheriff Root, we couldn’t ask for a better fit. Well, besides R. Lee Ermey. Or Chris Cooper. But you know what, we’re going with Parks, because this is our movie to cast.
Arseface – Paul Dano
Arseface is a hilarious beast of a character, and you would have to hire an actor who was really out there to be willing to play him. Thankfully, Paul Dano is in this world, because he is perfect for the role and just crazy enough to take it.
