A film adaptation of Vertigo Comics’ Preacher graphic novel line has be inching along through 13 years of development hell. An announcement has come today that might make it seem that journey is close to an end. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.

D.J. Caruso, director of the current#3 film in America, I Am Number Four, announced via Twitter that he is officially signed on to direct the adaptation of the Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon comic series.

That “going back to the dark side” comment is interesting. The darkest film of his career was 2002′s The Salton Sea, but as of late he has been more known for popcorn thrillers like Disturbia and Eagle Eye. His experience in this genre of film has caused a bit of naysaying along the Internet (CHUD.com titles its coverage of this news “DJ Caruso Determined To Make Preacher Lame“) and Caruso’s flirtation with the dark side has never quite gotten this dark.

Created in 1995, Preacher tells the story of Jesse Custer, a Texas preacher who is possessed by a supernatural entity that is the offspring of a demon and an angel. This possession gives Custer the ability to force any human to do whatever Custer wants as long as Custer says the words. Custer’s new powers compels him to go on a search for God, who has abandoned Heaven when the spirit inside Custer was born. Custer is joined on his quest by his ex-girlfriend Tulip O’Hare and an Irish vampire named Cassidy.

The series was full of pitch-black humor and extreme violence–usually going hand in hand. It is also known for it’s hard-hitting examination of religious themes. Besides the absentee god, there is also the inbred offspring of Jesus, various fallen angels, and more blasphemy than you can shake a stick at.

This approach to religion has been rumored to be the main cause of Preacher’s slow journey to the screen. The graphic novel was first optioned way back in 1998 and names such as Kevin Smith, Scott Mosier, The Weinstein Brothers, Jason Marsden, Mark Steven Johnson, Sam Mendes, and John August have been attached to the project over the years. The film version has moved from Miramax Films to Columbia Pictures, and, for a brief time, an HBO series was planned. Many of the speed bumps along the way were rumored to be due to the fact that a suit got skittish over the irreverent take on the Christian dogma.

Caruso was once attached to helm another Vertigo adaptation, Y: The Last Man. He would often express when that project came up in interviews that he wanted to do justice to the original book. One assumes that we can expect the same here. Of course, that is if the studio doesn’t get to scared by the almost certain firestorm of controversy that would develop once the film hits theaters and either asks for plot changes or scraps the project once again.

1. Edge Of Darkness (Warner Brothers, 3,066 Theaters, 117 Minutes, Rated R): Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the attempted comeback of Mel Gibson.

I say attempted because, really, it should be really hard to come back from blaming all Jews for starting all wars while being arrested for drunk driving. Not saying he won’t get back in moviegoers good graces, but it shouldn’t be easy and it should take more than this.

The ads portray this as a revenge thriller, with Gibson as a cop looking to avenge the murder of his daughter. Other descriptions portray it as more of a conspiracy thriller. Either way, it should tap in to the angsty rage he employed in Ransom, which is good and bad. Good meaning that you know he can play these kinds of roles well. Bad because, well, why don’t you just rent Ransom instead?

Comic film fans might be interested in this one, as it’s directed by Martin Campbell, who is at the helm of the Green Lantern movie. So, if you never saw Casino Royale or The Mark of Zorro and want to check out his directing style, well, here’s your opportunity. 

2. When In Rome (Touchstone Pictures, 2,456 theaters, 91 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Screwball romantic comedies were once all the rage, oh, several decades ago. Why did they die out? Well, probably because they were hard to do well. I’m sure this film will prove that fact one way or another.

Kristen Bell stars as a harried, unlucky in love businesswoman who gets more than she bargains for when she steal some change from a fountain while on a trip to Rome. See, when you do that, you cause whoever threw those coins in to fall madly in love with you. You’d think they’d have a sign warning that.

Lucky for Bell, she doesn’t pick a quarter from an ax-murder, a priest or even a woman. She does pick coins from a wide range of weirdos. 

I like Bell and I’m rooting for her first star vehicle to be a success, and she is surrounded by a pretty interesting and, in some cases, good cast. But I fear that this film might not be all that good.

Another reason why quality might be lacking (and keeping with the comic book movie theme) is that this one is directed by Mark Steven Johnson, the man who wrote and directed Ghost Rider and Daredevil. He didn’t write this one, so you’re safe in that aspect, but be warned anyway.