Mumbai: Columbia Pictures has acquired the rights to the graphic novel Preacher to be adapted into a feature film directed by Sam Mendes and produced by Neal Moritz through his Original Films banner and Kickstart Productions’ Jason Netter. It was announced by Columbia Pictures presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach.

Preacher is a landmark work created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon. The film will be executive produced by Ken Levin. It focuses on Jesse Custer, the preacher of a small, destitute Texas town, who is struggling to get by and driven only by his strong moral sense. When his town is decimated by a supernatural force, Custer embarks on a journey across the country to take on the evil that has destroyed his town.

Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, "This is a very cinematic graphic novel with amazing characters and a fantastic story and we look forward to bringing it to the screen with Mendes, Moritz and Netter."

Moritz said, "Preacher is a groundbreaking graphic novel, one that redefined the medium in many ways, and Mendes is the ideal choice to bring it to the screen. Not only is Mendes one of our greatest directors, but he saw the way for Road to Perdition to make the transition from graphic novel to compelling drama and we’re confident that he will bring the same touch to Preacher. I am also pleased to be working with Ennis once again."

Columbia Pictures had previously announced that Moritz and Netter would be producing The Boys, based on another Garth Ennis comic book.