Karl Urban, who most recently played “Bones” McCoy in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot, is attached to play the villain in Screen Gems’ post-apocalyptic horror thriller Priest, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Written by Cory Goodman and based on a TokyoPop comic, Priest, which is being directed by Scott Stewart, is set in a world ravaged by war between man and vampires. Paul Bettany, who’s re-teaming with Stewart who directed him in the upcoming Legion, stars as a warrior priest and vampire slayer, who joins a sheriff (Cam Gigandet) and a warrior priestess (Maggie Q) to track down a murderous band of vampires who have kidnapped his niece.
Urban will play the role of Black Hat, the evil leader of the vamps who was once a priest and hunter.
Priest will be produced by Michael De Luca, Josh Donen and Mitchell Peck, and starts production next week in Los Angeles.