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Paul Bettany to Star in Adaptation of TokyoPop's Priest

by Brandon Lee Tenney
March 31, 2009

Other than the title and the most basic plot summary, not a whole lot else was known about Screen Gems' adaptation of the TokyoPop comic Priest when we last talked about it in December. But it's looking as if director Scott Stewart may have found his perfect priest. According to THR, Paul Bettany is in negotiations to star and Stewart says that since working with Bettany on their most recent film Legion, that "Bettany was Priest." In a world wrecked by centuries of violent warfare between man and vampire, a warrior priest turns against the church in order to save his kidnapped niece from a homicidal gang of vampires.

Screen Gems has the possibility to make this a very memorable film, as the concept is a provocative one. On the other hand, Screen Gems is also quite famous for watering down their films for the PG-13 audience, which with all likelihood is what is going to happen. Every time the word vampire is said out loud, three Twilight fans and their moms start to salivate - it's a pre-built audience Screen Gems can't afford to forgo. Sadly, and this is my opinion, it's damn near impossible to make a serious vampire film without some gore, frightening visuals, and an R-rating. They're vampires, they drink blood to stay undead. Come on!

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