The cast and producers of AMC’s comic book adaptation Preacher brought as lively and funky as an approach to their panel as the show itself measures out to be. As much of season two of the show thus far has taken place in New Orleans, the panel opened exuberantly with a full-on dance troupe and NOLA-style jazz brass band. The group played throughout until the show’s cast (Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Pip Torrens and Ian Coletti) and Producer Seth Rogen had arrived on stage.
They played the trailer for the second season featuring many of the crazy hijinks the fans can expect. The trailer ended hilariously with Pip Torrens’ character Herr Starr looking straight into the camera and offering this pearl of wisdom, “It’s like a 10-inch dick. I’d have to see it to believe it.” From there, the panelists spoke fondly for the crazier nature of their characters. Cooper commented on his character Jesse Custer, “The more the scripts are revealed to me, the darker side of him comes out. We’re going to see more and more.” Negga was more contemplative about her role as Jesse’s girlfriend Tulip O’Hare. She pointed out of Tulip, “I think there’s an innate intelligence. I think she understands who she is.” She added, “She’s also learning. She doesn’t project this idea of perfection.” Rogen mused at how incredible that such a crazy show even exists and how hard it can be to get it up on screen. He explained, “Every day you do this, you’re like, ‘How the hell do we do this?’ You never really know is the fun of filmmaking.” He also hinted there may be a role from the comic book he thinks he could play on the show down the line, but declined to indicate which character he’s thinking that might be.
The one extra clip they played entirely featured Torrens’ character Herr Starr. And what a hysterical clip it was. Starr was shown amidst a gaggle of possible recruits for the super-secret organization The Grail. The professors in attendance explain how they’re going to put all the applicants through a rigorous series of tests to prove whether they will be admitted. On a test of physical strength he starts masturbating long enough to bewilder his opponent before punching him out easily, later attacking the downed opponent with a large iron rod. When given a test for seduction, the female counterpart he is given a chance to test his skills with questions in character why she should help him. He coldly stares back and replies, “Give me the microfiche bitch or I’ll kill you and your whole family.” All the while, the famous paratrooper singalong “Blood on the Risers” plays in the background. Words can’t say enough, but as ruthless and shitty as Torrens’ character is, his performance burns up the screen. He controls it with such a cool, coldness that its impossible not to laugh along with every terrible, inappropriate action.