With Sam Mendes no longer attached to the project, Columbia has been looking to sign a new director for the adaptation of DC/Vertigo's Preacher. It's been rumored that D.J. Caruso was up for the job and now he's confirmed that he's been officially signed. Caruso has previously directed The Salton Sea, Taking Lives, Two for the Money, Disturbia, Eagle Eye, and I Am Number Four. The script is by John August.
I'd have preferred to see Mendes do it but he's tied up with Bond 23. Still, there have been so many false starts with this project, that Caruso may never make it either. Rachel Talalay, Mark Stephen Johnson (was to do it for HBO, IIRC) and then Mendes. Now Caruso. I'd like to see this get made but I won't be holding my breath.
Yep "Preacher" has been in development hell for so long that I'll be surprised if it ever actually surfaces. DJ Caruso isn't someone who excites me either, John August either for that matter. Wasn't Robert Rodriguez at one time attached to direct? I would have liked to have seen Mendes tackle this as well.
Caruso's casting wishlist is up his arse(face): http://www.chud.com/43311/d-j-carusos-dream-cast-for-preacher-will-make-your-heart-sink/
People are ranting about Pine as Jesse Custer and LaBeouf as Arseface, and those are terrible choices and all, but the worst is Alex Pettyfer as the Saint of Killers. How the hell do you pick this guy for this role? I'm fine with unconventional choices (I think the most inspired Saint of Killers suggestion I've heard is Samuel L. Jackson) but that one's just ridiculous.
Chris Pine is a versatile actor. He might surprise folks. Shia LeBoeuf, less so. Alex Pettyfer is just the pretty face du jour, and his movie bombed, no sense bothering with someone who'll be forgotten momentarily.
I like Pine but I don't see him for Jesse. Anyway, if he's doing Trek and Jack Ryan, can he fit in another franchise? Shia as Arseface - well, I'd be up for it if he goes the method route and takes a shotgun to his face. But the Saint of All Killers choice is just beyond ridiculous. Chris Walken, Sam Jackson, Clint, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Sam Shepard maybe. But Alex Pettyfer? WTF? Unless it's a mistake and Pettyfer is his choice for Cassidy? Still a shit choice, though.
If this thing ever gets made, you KNOW it's only going to be PG-13 and turned into something completely unrecognizable anyway. I find it very hard to get excited about this in the current Hollywood mindset.