Preacher (2016) | A SXSW TV Pilot Review

Back in 1995 a new comic book made its debut, and if memory serves it was met with fervent praise (pardon the pun). Published by Vertigo, an Imprint of DC Comics, Preacher was controversial not only because of its twisted take on Christian mythology, but also because it was uncompromisingly bloody and sexual, occasionally all at the same time, but given that it was written by Garth Ennis it really couldn’t have been any other way. With art by Steve Dillon and Glenn Fabry, Preacher was a massive success during its five year run and continues to sell well to this day across various print and electronic formats. I can to it rather late in its run, but it only took one issue to get me hooked, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

When news broke that it was going to become a TV show, I was immediately hesitant. Sure, Preacher was a great comic book, but could it be translated to television without losing everything that made the comic special? The only example of a similarly dark and twisted comic book being successful was AMC’s The Walking Dead (published by Image Comics and written by Robert Kirkman). So, I figured that if Preacher wanted to have a snowball’s chance in Hell of making it to television unscathed it would need to follow a similar path and find its home on cable. When it was announced that AMC had picked up the show, I was relieved. Now it had a shot.

A year and a half later the pilot for PREACHER passed before my eyes at SXSW. Produced by Seth Rogan (yes, you read that correctly) and staring Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer – our titular character – PREACHER tells the story of what happens when earthly failings meet metaphysical superpowers. Jesse Custer is a former bad-boy turned preacher in the small Texas town of Annville. As he struggles with his faith he crosses paths with Cassidy, a drunken Irish vampire played brilliantly by Joseph Gilgun. Jesse’s crazy former girlfriend Tulip is portrayed by Ruth Negga (you might remember her as Raina from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and when she catches up with him the dark past they share comes with her to mess up his life and complicate an already complicated situation. Add to that a supremely powerful supernatural entity that suddenly takes up residency in Jesse’s body, and things go off the rails in a fantastic way.

While it’s notoriously hard to judge a series based on the pilot, I’m happy to say that right out of the gate everything is hitting on all cylinders. From the acting to the writing to the special effects and fight choreography, this is quality entertainment. Liberties have been taken with the source material, but that’s always going to be the case. But fear not, it’s as violent and vulgar as you could want. After hearing Rogan talk during the Q&A event that followed the pilot’s premier, his love for the comic came through with crystal clarity. This is a passion project for him, and that love was echoed through the cast and crew in attendance. Having seen the pilot with my own eyes, I’m excited to see just where that passion takes the show.

Preacher will begin airing on AMC May 22nd, 2016.
Starring Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, and Joseph Gilgun.
Written by Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogan, and Sam Catlin.
Directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogan.