Preacher, the acclaimed comic book adaptation which stars Love/Hate's Ruth Negga, has been renewed for a longer second season in the US.
Based on Co Down writer Garth Ennis' cult comic of the same name, Preacher is currently the number two-rated new show on cable this year in the US in the 18-49 and 25-54 age groups with an average audience of 3.3m per episode. AMC, the network behind The Walking Dead franchise and Breaking Bad, premiered the series in May.
It tells the story of Jesse Custer (Mamma Mia! star Dominic Cooper), a Texan preacher who becomes possessed by a supernatural creature. Joining him on his adventures are his ex-girlfriend, criminal crack-shot Tulip O'Hare (Negga), and Irish vampire Cassidy (This is England actor Joseph Gilgun).
Ruth Negga with Preacher co-stars Joseph Gilgun (l) and Dominic Cooper
"Preacher is a special television programme and we're eager to share with fans the rest of this wild first season and, now, an expanded second season," said Charlie Collier, President of AMC.
"We look forward to more time with these unforgettable characters be it in Heaven, Hell, Texas or beyond," he added.
Preacher's renewal caps a great few weeks for Negga. Last month she was tipped to be one of 2017's Best Actress Oscar nominees for her performance in the new American film Loving, which received its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton in Loving
Written and directed by Mud and Midnight Special director Jeff Nichols, Loving tells the true story of an illegal inter-racial marriage in 1950s Virginia and stars Joel Edgerton as Richard Loving with the Irish-Ethiopian actress playing his wife, Mildred. The film will be released in the US in November - a key month in awards season - and in Ireland next February.
