Rumors of the casting for Lionsgate’s new incarnation of The Punisher are true: Variety confirms that Ray Stevenson (Rome, King Arthur) will star as Frank Castle in the third version of the film, which begins filming in October.
Dolph Lundgren starred in the role in 1989, followed in 2004 by Thomas Jane.
According to the trade paper, The Punisher will be set in New York City, where Castle goes up against a mobster.
Lexi Alexander (Hooligans) will direct the film, which aims for an R rating.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 am
where Castle goes up against a mobster.
That covers about 45 seconds of the movie- what else do they have?
I liked Ray Stevenson quite a bit on Rome. I just hope they work out a better plot this time around. The thing that makes the MAX title so good is that Ennis understands that the Punisher character needs interesting people to interact with. The “Kitchen Irish” story would probably adapt pretty well.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:31 am
Wouldn’t he be more suited to the Flash? “Oh yes they call him the streak” - oh wait. Stevenson. Never mind.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 am
Ummm…I don’t know why we have to keep changing Castles all the time.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 am
Because apparently this script is, or at some point was, so awful that Thomas Jane wanted nothing to do with the sequel or its makers.
And he LOVES Punisher, so that’s pretty bad.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:02 am
Nice choice. Loved him in ROME.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:22 am
Great call with the casting. looks like i might actually go see a PUNISHER MOVIE now for the first time.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I was looking forward to Thomas Jane as the Punisher again but guess not. Skipping this one.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Met Ray last week, he was buying Punisher tpbs from me (my store) and he told me about the role and the movie a bit. Apparently the director wanted him from the start, it was not even a long casting, it was just “that is the guy I want to play frank castle”. Ray is a really nice guy and will look the part, better than Mickey Mantle (oops, I mean Jane). And he wears a REAL 13th LEGION gold ring, how bad ass is that.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I suppose he’ll look the part, but I was rather looking forward to Thomas Jane continuing in the role. I just hope this isn’t a restart of the franchise and is a sequel to Jane’s Punisher film. I also hope it isn’t as bad as Jane said it was when he dropped out.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I agree with JonB
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 pm
If Thomas Jane thinks that the movie is bad, I’ll have to go with him and avoid the second movie as well.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
“And he LOVES Punisher, so that’s pretty bad.”
Yeah, but he also liked the script for the Punisher movie he was in, and that was awful
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 pm
There is no Punisher without John Travolta!
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Now they just need to cast the guy that played Vorenus as his sidekick. Pullo rocks! That said, this movie will most likely suck worse than Dolph Lungren’s given the reasons Jane departed the role.
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:10 am
Thomas Jane should have stayed as the Punisher
August 4th, 2007 at 5:31 am
This is awesome Ray will be a bad ass Punisher. Tom Jane left get over it, and the script was reworked after he left. They also have a good director. Can’t wait to see this!
August 5th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Why didn’t Tom Jane come back? Three Punisher films and three Punishers…slightly inconsistent.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
One man. One grandma. One reindeer.
The Punisher in “Grandma Got Murderer by a Reindeer.”
August 5th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
I wish Jane would’ve stayed on, he looked alot more the part. Hopefully this movie will be good, but I’m not impressed so far.