James Franco Almost Played Jessie Custer in AMC's PREACHER

Dominic Cooper was not the first choice for the lead role of Jesse Custer on AMC's Preacher, according to producers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen. Slashfilm says that the two initially wanted James Franco for the project, but weren't able to get him due to his schedule of a dozen projects and unwillingness to drop them for television:

Goldberg: "He was into it but just literally he has to make 4,000 things in 20 different formats. It would take up his time and he wouldn’t be able to do a Tori Spelling movie or whatever the hell he was going to do.”

Rogen: “[Franco] was dangling from a crane in Venice at the time so he couldn’t work us in...I think that was even before, that was in a very preliminary phase.”

I don't think I would enjoy the show as much as I have with James Franco in the main role. Franco is a great actor, but I just don't see myself visualizing him doing some of the stuff Dominic Cooper does in the role. Ultimately, I'm glad the talks fell through. I'm sure you feel the same way.