News
Preacher Dead at HBO
Source:Comics Continuum
August 27, 2008
Comics Continuum spoke to Mark Steven Johnson (Ghost Rider, Daredevil), who says that his adaptation of Garth Ennis' "Preacher" won't be happening at HBO.
"We were budgeting and everything and it was getting really close to going," Johnson said. "But the new head of HBO felt it was just too dark and too violent and too controversial. Which, of course, is kind of the point!
"It was a very faithful adaptation of the first few books, nearly word for word. They offered me the chance to redevelop it but I refused. I've learned my lesson on that front and I won't do it again. So I'm afraid it's dead at HBO."
To read more of what he had to say about a possible movie, hit the link above.
Related Articles From Other SitesPosted by: lou-bert vs. q-bert on August 27, 2008 at 10:33:14
So this is the same network that had the violent, bloody Spawn animated series? What a bunch of phonies. Perhaps Showtime will pick up the slack.
Posted by: AlteredEgo on August 27, 2008 at 10:33:20
Too dark and violent for HBO? Really?
Posted by: Ronny Shade on August 27, 2008 at 10:36:44
I'd like to see a feature of it. There's no way they'd be able to cover everything in 2 hours, but with better effects and more famous actors involved it could be worth it.
But Mark Steven Johnson? Really?
meh.
Posted by: Tyler on August 27, 2008 at 10:38:36
Seriously, guys? This is upsetting. I was hoping to be able to start this series simutaneously with the show...
Posted by: Stumblin on August 27, 2008 at 10:40:45
Too dark? What about the Oz series? Yeah, because getting shanked, butt rapped, and excessive use of drugs, violence along with police corruption is apparently Candy Land compared to Preacher.
Posted by: Derrick Clarke on August 27, 2008 at 10:44:02
Yeah I agree. Oz was defintely dark, and at least HBO could go on with what MSJ was hoping for a faithful adaptation. ah the issues of execs...
Posted by: Kris Avalon on August 27, 2008 at 10:44:15
Too controversial for HBO? That's a new one. I always thought putting a show on pay cable gave you the freedom to do what the major networks won't allow you to do. With SHOWTIME killing it with their programming, HBO better step up their game or else that new exec who's afraid to take chances will be out of a job. Also, Mark Steven Johnson made two of the worst comic book films - Ghost Rider & Daredevil. I would be a little nervous letting him helm Preacher too if I was an exec.
Posted by: goudos on August 27, 2008 at 10:45:50
Does it matter anymore if its HBO or 20th Cen. Fox or Lionsgate? Do you have any faith in the new Hollywood Studio system? HBO's new head didn't pass on the preacher becuse its dark and violent, I would guess its becuse of the anti-religious themes. Go back and look at the old Hollywood production code, religion is not to be attacked. The MPAA has clergy invovled in it (see This Film is Not Yet Rated). Hollywood's corprate powers are taking over again and they are moving the ball backwards. The Preacher will not be made.
Posted by: California on August 27, 2008 at 10:47:21
Oh no! Please don't go theatrical! Mark Steven Johnson might be a nice guy but his movies are terrible. He has single-handedly ruined both Daredevil and Ghostrider. It was only the Director's cut of Daredevil, which was MUCH better than the theatrical version, which allowed me to believe that he wasn't retarded. He should go into another line of work. Movies should be done by geniuses. MSJ just doesn't have the brilliant artist touch that is required to do movies and from his current work, it doesn't look like he ever will.
Posted by: MemnochZERO on August 27, 2008 at 10:56:35
Oh man, HBO died with it's last great series The Wire, but it was dead before then. It's lost OZ, Six Feet Under, cancelled DEADWOOD (wft) and Rome. HBO isn't even worth mentioning anymore. Showtime's getting the good stuff. Then again, Preacher's my favorite series and just the thought of MSJ ****ing it up makes me cry (he's not even close to filmmakers I'd even associate with the idea of a live action Preacher. Hopefully they can do it right in some other form.
Posted by: MisterPL on August 27, 2008 at 11:00:03
This is a division of the same company that recently announced an initiative to leverage more of its DC characters in films?
Oh well. Maybe a live-action Batman series would be acceptable to HBO instead.
Posted by: Autopath on August 27, 2008 at 11:01:34
Ugh...HBO...say it isn't so. First you killed Carnivale, then Deadwood and Rome. What happened to being pioneers? Since when is HBO afraid to push the envelope? Too dark?
I thought HBO knew people LOVE dark...
Posted by: Phil on August 27, 2008 at 11:25:59
god i would rather it not be made then have mark steven johnson be a part of it! he is as bad as joel schumaker!!
Posted by: FireFly's Enigma on August 27, 2008 at 11:28:01
My personal opinion is that I'm going with the 3 strikes and your out rule. Mark Steven Johnson...Daredevil (strike 1) but the directors cut is much better, Ghost Rider (strike 2) GR could had been so much more.
So when Preacher is picked up by another company, the quote "the new head of HBO felt it was just too dark and too violent and too controversial. Which, of course, is kind of the point!" better mean just that or it's strike 3 buddy boy.
Posted by: Patman on August 27, 2008 at 11:28:29
The good news out of all of this?
"I've heard someone is in the process of getting the rights to turn it into a feature film. I hope that happens. But I hope it happens as a series of movies as one movie couldn't do it justice."--MSJ
Yup. It's good news to me... if they franchise it and don't try to sum it up in one film. I trust enough in Garth Ennis' work on the Preacher series that people who read it will respect it, Hollywood or no. It wasn't a question of MSJ respecting the material for me. I know he likes the comics an' stuff. But it's a matter of vision. I hated his. I'm glad he's back into comedy films. He has a good history there.
Wouldn't it be kinda neat if Zack Snyder's after the rights? Kinda seems up his alley. I can't say 'Watchmen' is a flawless work, 'cause I haven't seen it yet, but I'm definitely happy with what they've shown so far. '300' was a cool start, if not perfect. I never read the series (I know, I know... shame on me), but it did seem to salute it. And Zack has a thing for adapting graphic novels, as painstakingly as he can, it would seem. I'd love to see him wielding "The Voice". One can dream.
Posted by: Aeghast on August 27, 2008 at 11:30:21
I remember talking to someone once and telling them that PREACHER should be a HBO series. Too bad the project is dead (bad it's really a good thing since the people involved were...........well, ****)
Posted by: C-DoG187 on August 27, 2008 at 11:30:45
DAMMIT! lol Preacher is much better as a series then as a movie. I just don't want them to try to compress everything to 1-3 movies. I dunno if they could do a harry potter, and do each book as a movie. Because it's not that well known outside of comics, and seeing as how the main villain of the series is GOD himself I dunno how well received it would be. But still if you haven't read preacher... DO IT!
Posted by: Patman on August 27, 2008 at 11:31:30
Err... The Word!
My friggin' bad. :)
Posted by: Transmitte on August 27, 2008 at 11:32:31
See, I gave up on HBO when they nuked they abruptly booted Carnivale out the door, which was a poor mistake, that has to be one of the best shows produced for as out of the box thinkers.
HBO, what can I say? You drop a ball like none other. The only upside to this, MSJ won't be making it now(We hope).
Posted by: Transmitte on August 27, 2008 at 11:33:43
Wow, I *really* should spell check before I post..
Posted by: J.Orge: Dat Merc Wit Da Mouth on August 27, 2008 at 11:49:37
WHY MUST THEY SHATTER MY HOPES AND DREAMS!?! WHY GOD, WWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYY!?!................Oh, heh, it's not that whole Hunting you down and killing you theme to Preacher, is it God..? Heh...um...Sorry..
Posted by: Patman on August 27, 2008 at 11:52:43
@ Transmitte
I agree. Carnivale was fan-damn-tastic. Six Feet Under was great too. What the hell was up with John From Cincinnati though? And isn't Tru Blood kind of a ripoff of Joss Whedon's original Buffy concept? A vampire-slaying waitress? I know it's taken from a series of books, but isn't that author kind of ripping off Joss? I dunno... I guess we'll see. Previews look that way though.
Showtime's pullin' the trump card on programming--between Californication, WEEDS, Dexter, and snagging Inside The NFL away from HBO. There's definitely a drought in good series there. I'll give 'em props for Generation Kill though.
But saying the Preacher series it "too dark" after OZ is crap. I guess they're happy to settle for the ho-hum of Big Love to get them by.
Posted by: Your Name Here on August 27, 2008 at 12:27:01
Thank goodness HBO is keeping it original, and not adapting established material. HBO has the funniest thing on TV with Curb Your Enthusiasm. I'm sure the series, though, is mostly over the heads of the tweeners that constantly ***** about how emo ruined Spidey 3.
Posted by: Mark Steven Johnson on August 27, 2008 at 12:27:18
Hey guys, I'm a hack and will definitely slaughter this film and any future franchise potential this series might have!!!
Posted by: adamantium g on August 27, 2008 at 12:36:21
What the hell happenned to HBO? Sopranos is over. They killed Deadwood? Too dark? Damn, and here I was looking forward to the rumored Spawn Animated. As I seem to recall, the original Spawn was DARK!!!! Oh well, I know people love to hate this guy, but at least respect the fact that he states he has learned his lesson and refused to remake it and disrespect the source material. Good for him.
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