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Actor Ray Stevenson getting trained by Marines Company, Gunmetal, to prepare for his role in PUNISHER: WAR ZONE(2008).
© Lionsgate

PUNISHER 2 Gets A Name Change

By: Jarrod Sarafin, News Editor
Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Source: IGN Movies

Since quite a few people were questioning the original title to the Punisher sequel, Punisher: Welcome Back Frank, I'm passing this bit of news along to you. Lionsgate and creators have changed the name to PUNISHER: WAR ZONE. This is also the title for a original Marvel comic series featuring Frank Castle back from 1992-1995 and it was also a previously used title for Jonathan Hensleigh's 2004 Punisher film before settling on just the character's name for a title.

Filming will begin for director Lexi Alexander and star Ray Stevenson in Montreal this fall and Lionsgate plans to release PUNISHER: WAR ZONE sometime in 2008.

Big thanks to Mania scooper, Mr. Jawbreaking Equilibrium, for passing this bit along...

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Comments/Responses

Bmfstunner • Aug 29, 2007, 03:12am •

I liked the first title a lot more, seems like there gonna go with the cliche

exfan • Aug 29, 2007, 04:59am •

i already say that before, the only punisher i have seen so far was The man on fire from tony scott. the first punisher was a good B series movie but far far away from the frank castle character create in the comics. Gentlemem return to the comics from 92 to 95 you will see how he punish peoples for a real cause, i hope war zone will be closer than the first episode

Whiskeymovie • Aug 29, 2007, 06:30am •

I liked the 2004 movie and I really dig THomas Jane, but it just didn't feel like a really good Punisher movie. I like the name change. Welcome Back Frank, well, seems kind of cheesy. War Zone at least sounds like it will be bad ass, not a crappy 70's sitcom.

Dazzler • Aug 29, 2007, 06:43am •

I am glad they changed the movie, the con people in Chicago hated it also. War Zone is not cliche either since it's a legit comic. I also still want Jane in the movie but...at least somebody is listening to the fans a little bit. These guys need to satisfy the fans first then gen pop later and the money will follow.

ponyboy76 • Aug 29, 2007, 07:35am •

Yeah, not too surprised by the name change. Comic fans would have gotten it, but the mass public, would have thought it was some sort of action comedy. War Zone sounds more viceral and badass.

nrollins • Aug 29, 2007, 07:59am •

This seems to make sense, especially since 'Welcome Back Frank' is referential to the Ennis storyline and the first film borrowed a lot from that arc. From what has been published, this sequel seems more in line with the 70s-90s depiction of the The Punisher, so a title borrowed from Ennis would make less sense.

wessmith1966 • Aug 29, 2007, 08:51am •

Good name change; looking forward to a violent, killing machine version of Castle. I like Jane, but he just didn't make me belive he was a hardened killer.

javaone • Aug 29, 2007, 10:04am •

The name sounds cool now. Let's hope this is the signal that they're going to turn this franchise (if you can call it that so far) around. I'm ready to see the Punisher actually start punishing people.

rojam • Aug 29, 2007, 10:04am •

I'll be curious to see how this goes. I like the fact that a female martial artist turned director is helming the project. I'm seeing that more and more "pure" action movies are coming down the pike - War, Shoot 'em Up, and the like...it will be curious to see what Lexi can do with this genre. Holligans was a pretty insightful flick.

scoundrel • Aug 29, 2007, 11:10am •

I dig the name change. I hope this movie is cool, although Thomas Jane dropping out makes me doubtful. The first one was pretty good but I hated the wild west quick-draw ending at the end. Seemed very un-Frank Castle to me. Everything else I more-or-less dug.

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