Last year, Lucy Griffiths was cast in the female lead of NBC’s Constantine adaptation before being unceremoniously dropped from the show after the pilot episode. Perhaps Griffiths will have better luck with another Vertigo comics adaptation this year.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Griffiths has been cast in AMC’s Preacher, the adaptation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillion’s ‘cult classic comic book series that was published in the ‘90s.
Preacher follows a small town preacher named Jesse Custer, who is imbued with the word of God that forces almost any being in creation to follow his command. Along with his ex-girlfriend, Tulip and a one hundred year old vampire named Cassidy, Jesse seeks out God after the Almighty abandons his post in Heaven.
Griffiths will play Emily Woodrow, a new character created for television. The description provided describes Emily as “a no-nonsense single mother of three. Emily’s a waitress, the church organist, bookkeeper and Jesse’s loyal right hand. Stoic and strong, wise beyond her years, she can’t help but have a little thing for Preacher Jesse.”
Prior to Constantine, Griffiths was best known for playing Nora on HBO’s True Blood and Marian in BBC’s Robin Hood.
Dominic Cooper is rumored to be AMC’s top choice to play Jesse Custer, but no announcement has been made. Ruth Negga (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) has been cast as Tulip, with Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy and Ian Colletti as Arseface.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are executive producing Preacher with Breaking Bad veteran Sam Catlin. The pilot episode is expected to begin production later this year.
