Mitch Goldman's new US distribution operation The Premiere Group has signed to handle domestic rights on Preacher, a $22m feature of the comic book series by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon which is being produced by Rupert Harvey's Electric Entertainment and H Michael Heuser's Storm Entertainment.

Rachel Talalay (Tank Girl) is directing the film which is scheduled to start shooting in November from a screenplay by Ennis. The picture is currently out to cast through casting director Pam Dixon Mickelson (The Mask Of Zorro, Vertical Limit).

Harvey, whose credits include Bones and Plunkett & Macleane, will produce with Heuser, Tom Astor (Tank Girl, Gorillaz), Steve Robbins, Jim Reeve and Martin Auty executive producing.

The film is the story of a man in search of God, but not for religious or spiritual enlightenment. Set in western Texas, it is sold internationally by Storm.