This is officially my favorite news story of the week! Remember when HBO dropped Preacher from their slate, and rumors swirled that a big name was interested? Turns out, that interested party was none other than Sam Mendes, and according to Variety, he's bringing the long-awaited series to the big screen.

Let's slow down and savor that: Sam Mendes is going to direct Garth Ennis' Preacher for Columbia Pictures. Ahhhh. Yes, doesn't it feel good?

For the unconverted, Preacher is a 75-issue series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillion -- and it was the kind of dark, brilliant insanity that comic book fans see maybe once or twice in their lifetime. It centers on the Reverend Jesse Custer, who becomes inhabited by the offspring of an angel and a demon, and gives him a little power called the Word of God. Upon learning that God has officially retired from the Heavenly Father business, Custer goes on a hunt to bring the Lord to justice, accompanied by his ex-girlfriend, Tulip, and a vampire named Cassidy. And that's all I'm going to tell you, because I'm not about to spoil any more of it. After you finish reading this, go to Amazon and buy the first volume. You'll love it. It's a good old fashioned western, mixed with horror, comedy, and blasphemy.

I'm not sure how they'll get most of it onscreen (Arseface, Grandma, and the Allfather plot immediately spring to mind), and I'm not sure if Mendes has the twisted touch to bring it to life. But it's the kind of story you love or you hate -- it's difficult to imagine any director signing on for Preacher without being utterly committed to its depravity. There's no halfway with it.

For me, it all hinges on what man's man they cast as the not-so-good Reverend. I can't wait to see who gets to wear the collar, and I'll drop my support if he doesn't meet my exact specifications.