SDCC17 Preacher Panel: Live Blog

A Mardi-Gras band comes into Hall H, playing “When the Saints Come Marching In” as they walk on to the stage. Dancers accompany the band. Fans start cheering as the song comes to a close and Chris Hardwick takes the stage.

Hardwick immediately opens by introducing a new trailer.

The Saint of Killers is at a bar in New Orleans, saying he is there to kill a man. The trio of “Heroes” claim to know where God is so they’re not going to run from the Killer. A montage of fight scenes and Eugene’s time in Hell with Hitler unfolds. The Saint of Killers says he wants a word with Hitler.

The footage introduces Herr Starr, the new villain.

Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joe Gilgun, Graham McTavish, and Ian Colletti take the stage.

Introductions

Hardwick asked Rogen if he thought this show could ever exist on TV. Seth said no, but luckily people’s sensibilities have declined over the year.

“It’s lucky for us that we live in such an age of decline,” Seth said with a laugh. “It’s a childhood dream come true.”

“The characters and the tone and the overall story of looking for God are so relatable. We loved that it had all genres and we thought if we could make a show that has all that shit in it we wanted to bring it to life.”

Chris Hardwick is talking about the first season and how it worked as a prequel. Rogen acknowledges that it’s absolutely crazy and that’s why they needed the first season. They needed to introduce the characters and themes.

“We literally killed everyone. Those were some awkward phone calls. We told them they were going to kill them when we hired them.”

Now We’re in New Orleans…

Hardwick asks Dominic where Jesse is now, is he back in his comfort zone at all?

“It makes sense to me, the darker side of him. All that anger and resentment and self-hatred has always been bubbling under the surface. The more the scripts I read, the more I realize that his darkest side comes out when he feels Tulip is in danger. He has a side that no one has seen yet, but we’ll see more and more than that as we go on.”

Dominic goes on to talk about Jesse’s use of Genesis and he says the character’s selfishness drives him to using it more often.

Hardwick asks Ruth Negga about Tulip’s true nature.

“She understands who she is, i don’t think she’s ever tried to fit in. That’s been projected to her, but she doesn’t think that’s what you should be looking forward to in life.

“She’s straining to get back the life they had before Dallas. She’s coming to terms with the fact that that’s not possible. She’s really angry with God because she’s always felt abandoned by the idea of him. She hasn’t been interested in religion because she feels that God has always let her down.”

Hardwick addresses Joseph Gilgun about Cassidy’s story in Season 2.

“He’s giving it a go, he’s trying to do the right thing.”

Joe started to say something about Cassidy’s desire to get some kind of redemption and he stopped himself.

“I almost ruined Preacher there, didn’t I?”

Hardwick asks Joe why Cassidy sticks around with Jesse.

“He needs Jesse. When he’s with Jesse and Tulip, it’s almost like being in rehab for him. He’s got something stable for the first time. 

“We’re honest with each other, it’s like a sibling relationship.”

Hardwick asks Rogen about Cassidy and whether or not there will be more vampire scenes in Season 2.

“It gets a little more vampire-y in the back half.”

Graham McTavish talks about the Saint of Killers, and he says that his character has a definite purpose in life. He has to become reunited with the family he lost.

“He carries with him the love for his family through all of the violent acts that he commits.”

“He has to get Genesis and, to do that, he has to kill Jesse Custer.”

Hardwick asks Ian Coletti how hard it is to work with a butthole on his face. he says that he needs a new mask every day, so it’s a difficult process. 

“With the bottom half of your face covered you really have to focus on your eyes to convey emotion. In the scene where I wasn’t in the mask I suddenly felt very naked without it.

“Eugene is now in hell and he has to reconsider everything he ever thought about himself.”

 

Welcoming New Characters

Hardwick asks about The Grail, and Rogen says that the organization will be introduced in the next episode. They will ultimately learn that the “Arm of their Samson Unit is run by Herr Starr who is the most powerful guy. If you’ve read the comic, you know exactly who they are.”

Now there is a clip of Herr Starr coming to the screen. Rogen says it’s not really suitable for all audience.

“Toughen up,” Joe Gilgun.

The clip begins:

A group of men are standing in a line. One man is shown with a chain hooked to his nipples. This is a selection process and some men in lab coats are going to choose one man. Herr Starr is the man with the nipple peircings, and he argues with the men about validating his parking. 

The men have sweatshirts on now and the are going through rigorous physical tests. They each have to fight a man in a wrestling circle. Everyone loses until Starr walks in the ring. The wrestler takes him down and Starr starts masterbating. When the man notices, Starr takes him out. He then beats him to death with a crowbar.

The lab coat men say that they need the trainees to show that they can seduce a woman. A man talks sexually to a woman at a dinner table. He succeeds. it’s Starr’s turn. The woman puts on an act, he tells her to give him what he needs or he will kill her and his family. 

The next shot sees three men getting their testicles electrocuted. Two are screaming, but not Star.

There are two candidates left and they have to shoot a gun. The first man shoots the target many times accurately. Starr then shoots the other man. Starr got the job with The Grail.

Chris Hardwick introduces three new actors to the stage. Pip Torrens playing Herr Starr, Julie Ann Emery playing Lara Featherstone, and Malcom Barrett as F.J. Hoover. 

They can’t say much without spoiling anything about their characters.

Fan Questions

What was the hardest scene to film?

Julie Anne Emery says that the hardest scene hasn’t happened yet so she can’t talk about it. Rogen says the opening shoot-out scene would be difficult but the crew is so dedicated that it makes it easier. He says you never know which day is going to be hard.

The cast says filming on Bourbon Street was difficult because of the drunk people. One man had to be escorted away.

A fan asks if Seth Rogen is going to cameo in the show.

“Not in this season, but we talk about it. There is a role I would potentially do, but I won’t talk about it in case I actually do it.”

Seth jokes that he’s going to take over Dominic’s role.

“The show is called Rabbi now.”

A fan asks about if they’ve learned new things from this show. Dominic says that they’ve developed the ability to switch between genres very quickly.

Ruth Negga says that she learned how to play Guitar Hero on the set of Preacher, even though she doesn’t know how to drive.

What the craziest fan interaction so far?

Joe says he’s had a few.

“I’ve turned into a bit of a gigolo over here. I don’t know if it’s the accent, but it doesn’t work that well back at home.”

“Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights.” – Dominic Cooper.