Preacher comic villain Herr Starr is 'big part' of season 2

The first season of AMC’s Preacher introduced viewers to a lot of strange characters from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s original comic, including the mumbling Eugene (a.k.a. “Arseface”), the angels Fiore and DeBlanc, the junkie-vampire Cassidy, and, of course, the titular, superpower-possessing Jesse Custer, who is played on the show by Dominic Cooper. And several more will pop up in season 2, according to showrunner Sam Catlin.

“We bring in all sorts of crazy characters from the comic that we had to really restrain ourselves from bringing in too early in season 1,” he says. “So that’s been a lot of fun.”

The list of new characters joining the show includes Herr Starr, who in the comic is a German killer working for a secretive organization called The Grail.

“He’ll be a big part of the season and he’ll be a big part of Jesse’s life going forward,” Catlin says of Starr. “That was a character that, as soon as I read the comic the first time, I loved him so much. Obviously, we couldn’t wait to bring him out and give him his due.”

Starr is played by Pip Torrens, whose previous credits include The Crown and Poldark. “He was born to play the role,” says Catlin. “I don’t know quite what that says about Pip, but he’s amazing.”

RELATED VIDEO: The World of The Walking Dead

Two other characters from the comic affiliated to The Grail, Featherstone and Hoover, will also appear this season. “Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul) is playing Featherstone and Malcolm Barrett (Timeless) is playing agent Hoover,” says the showrunner.

Any more characters from the comic that we’ll see in season 2? “That’s all I’m comfortable about talking about for now!” laughs Catlin.

Preacher season 2 kicks off with a two-night event, beginning with the season premiere on AMC on Sunday, June 25 at 10 p.m. ET, followed by the second episode on Monday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET in the series’ regular time slot. Watch a trailer for the new season, above.