John August Enlisted for "Preacher"

[J_UNTITLED]

From Variety...

"Big Fish" scribe John August has been tapped to adapt the supernatural graphic novel "Preacher" for Columbia.

Sam Mendes will direct the pic, which centers on the preacher of a Texas town who is struggling to get by and is driven only by his strong moral sense. When the city is decimated by an otherworldly force, he embarks on a journey across the country to take on the evil.

Critically lauded graphic novel was created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon. The 75-issue "Preacher" series, which ran from 1995-2000, nabbed four Eisner Awards.

Sony-based Neal Moritz, who last year produced "Made of Honor," "Prom Night" and "Vantage Point" for the studio, is producing "Preacher" through his Original Film banner alongside Kickstart Prods.' Jason Netter. Ken Levin and Ori Marmur exec produce.

August, who is a frequent collaborator of Tim Burton, is currently writing "Dark Shadows" for Warner Bros. He made his directorial debut on 2007 drama "The Nines," which he also penned.

From The Hollywood Reporter...

John August, who just two weeks ago lamented on his screenwriting blog that his long-gestating "Shazam!" project at Warners hit a roadblock, suddenly has plenty of irons in the fire.

August has booked a pair of gigs that will see him working with top-flight directors: He's set to write "Frankenweenie" for Tim Burton and Disney after first tackling the comic book adaptation "Preacher" for Sam Mendes and Columbia.

"Frankenweenie" is based on a comedic horror short that Burton made in 1984 while a film school student. The story tells of a man who brings his dog back to life after it is killed by a car.

While the original "Frankenweenie" was a live-action project, the new one will be made using stop-motion animation and be in 3-D. Like the original, the feature version is to be shot in black & white. Burton is producing, and many of the animation artists and crew from the director's "Corpse Bride" will be involved, with the studio aiming for a 2011 release.

Allison Abbate will produce with Burton as she did on "Corpse Bride." Don Hahn will exec produce.

"Preacher" is based on the popular 1990s DC/Vertigo series created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. It tells the story of a down-and-out Texas preacher, given immense powers, who teams up with a former girlfriend and a hard-drinking Irish vampire and sets out on a journey across America to find God -- who apparently had abandoned his duties in heaven -- and hold him accountable for his negligence.

Neal Moritz is producing through his Original Films banner along with Kickstart Prods.' Jason Netter.

"Frankenweenie" will mark UTA-repped August's fifth collaboration with Burton. The two worked on "Big Fish," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Corpse Bride" and have "Dark Shadows," set up at Warners with Johnny Depp attached to star, in the wings.

"Shazam," meanwhile, remains in development at Warners and is looking for writers.