John August writing Mendes's 'Preacher'

John August will write comic book adaptation Preacher for Sam Mendes to direct, reports Variety.

The screenwriter, who penned the Tim Burton films Corpse Bride, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Big Fish, confirmed on his website that work on Preacher is in its infancy.

He said: "There's no release date, no cast, no locations, no nothing. I'm writing a script which could become a movie if everything lines up correctly. So here's hoping. It's a terrific project that I'm excited to be writing."

Based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's 75-part Vertigo comic series, Preacher centres on Texas clergyman Jesse Custer as he becomes possessed by a supernatural creature called Genesis.