Earlier this year, rumors linked Dominic Cooper to the lead role in AMC’s Preacher. After lengthy negotiations, the news is official. Cooper is going to portray Jesse Custer on TV.
Preacher executive producer Seth Rogen announced the news on twitter: “”We have Jesse Custer! @dominiccoop is gonna save our souls. #Preacher.” Cooper has appeared in several feature films, including Mamma Mia!, An Education, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Dracula Untold and Need For Speed. Cooper recently recurred on Agent Carter as Howard Stark, a role he first played in Captain America: The First Avenger
Preacher was created as a Vertigo comic book series during the ‘90s by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon. The TV adaptation will stay fairly close to the source material, as a small town preacher, Jesse Custer is given a power described as “the word of God,” which allows him to command almost anyone in creation.
Related: Lucy Griffiths Joins Preacher Adaptation
Joining Jesse on his road trip to literally find God are his ex-girlfriend and current assassin, Tulip (Ruth Negga) and a 100 year old drunken vampire known as Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). Ian Colletti is also a series regular as Arseface, with Lucy Griffiths set to portray Emily, a new character created for the show.
Rogen and his frequent collaborator, Evan Goldberg are executive producing Preacher for AMC alongside Breaking Bad veteran Sam Catlin. The pilot episode of Preacher is expected to begin filming this year.