Preacher: James Franco Could’ve Played Jesse Custer

While Franco does bear a passing resemblance to the Jesse Custer of the comics, Goldberg suggested the actor was just too busy to commit to a multi-season deal.

As much as the series does revolve around Jesse, it’s truly an ensemble piece, and casting Franco would’ve turned it into something like The James Franco Show. Still, it’s interesting to consider how things might be different for the series had they gone the Franco route.

A new report from Screen Crush, via /Film, indicates that during initial casting discussions, Rogen’s longtime friend and frequent collaborator James Franco (11.22.63) was up for the role of Jesse.