Deadwood star W. Earl Brown has joined the growing cast of AMC's comic book adaptation Preacher. The actor is set to portray Sheriff Hugo Root, the mean-spirited father of the disfigured Eugene Root, a.k.a. Arseface (Ian Colletti). Deadline describes Hugo as a, "flinty-eyed, conspiracy-credulous redneck who is not a fool and has a vulnerability to him."

The show is based on the comic book series of the same name, created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, which follows a Texas preacher named Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), who becomes merged with an entity from heaven known as Genesis, which is half angel and half demon. This entity gives Jesse the power to make anyone do as he says, as he goes on a quest to literally find God, who has abandoned his post in heaven. The cast also includes Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun as Jesse's ex-girlfriend Tulip and an Irish vampire named Cassidy, who accompany Jesse on his journey, along with Lucy Griffiths as Emily and the most recent casting addition, Elizabeth Perkins as Vyla Quinncannon.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are directing the pilot episode, which was written by Sam Catlin. The directors and writer will also executive produce alongside James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Vivian Cannon, Ori Marmur, Ken F. Levin and Jason Netter. It isn't known when shooting will begin on the pilot. Best known for playing Dan Dority in Deadwood, W. Earl Brown currently stars on ABC's American Crime and he will next be seen in Season 2 of HBO's True Detective.