Marvel Comics' THE PUNISHER
© 2001 Marvel

Related Links

0

Punisher, The

Genre:
Action/Crime/Comic Book Adaptation.

Studio:
Lions Gate Films.


Production Company:
Unknown.

Project Phase:
In the Can.

Who's In It:
Thomas Jane (Frank Castle/"The Punisher"); John Travolta (Howard Saint); Laura Harring; Rebecca Romijn-Stamos; Will Patton; Samantha Mathis; Roy Scheider; Ben Foster (Dave); James Carpinello; Mark Collie; John Pinette; Eddie Jamison; Russell Andrews.

Who's Making It:
Jonathan Hensleigh (Director, Screenwriter); Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd (Producer); Conrad W. Hall (Director of Photography); Michael Hanan (Production Designer); Lisa Tomczeszyn (Costume Designer); Carlo Siliotto (Musical Score); based on the character created by Gerry Conway and John Romita, published by Marvel Comics.

Premise:
After his wife and children are killed by the mob, FBI agent Frank Castle launches his own personal war against organized crime.

Release Date:
April 16, 2004.

Comments:
This was originally made into a film starring Dolph Lundgren...but let's just pretend like that never happened, OK?

Scoop Feedback:

June 12, 2001... This was originally mentioned as a direct-to-video flick, but it appears on the slate thatMarvel had on a fairly bigass poster at the NYC licensing show. Was this covering theatrical and video releases? Who knows? Comics2Film had mentioned previously that Artisan snagged a couple of URLs, ThePunisher-TheMovie.com and Punisher-TheMovie.com. [Info taken from Hollywood Reporter, Comics2Film; reported by Widgett.]

"I wrote a couple of drafts of The Punisher for Artisan and Marvel earlier this year," the screenwriter told C2F. "They liked what I did with it -- which basically was to create a new back story for Frank Castle, while putting in some elements of the Garth Ennis miniseries."

For more info about what kind of actors and directors Artisan is now approaching with the property, as well as if the Punisher's skull symbol will or won't appear on Frank Castle in the film, check out Comics2Film's exclusive. [Originally appeared on Comics2Film.]

April 23, 2002... In a surprising announcement made today in the trades, Michael France's latest screenplay for The Punisher has been discarded in favor of Jonathan Hensleigh (Armageddon, Die Hard With a Vengeance) coming on board to both write and direct the picture. Variety says that the Punisher movie will mark Hensleigh's directorial debut...but what about Bounty Killer? Hensleigh was supposed to helm that feature earlier this year. Has it been deep-sixed in favor of Frank Castle?

"The Punisher is one of the biggest and most important characters in the Marvel universe," said Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad. "When Amir [Malin, Artisan Entertainment CEO] and I signed the deal between Marvel and Artisan, the Punisher was one of the marquee properties that we both felt needed to be given a strong theatrical presence. Bringing Jonathan on board is a major step in bringing our vision to fruition."

Hensleigh will direct the film from his own original script. No date was given for the start of filming. [Scooped by 'B-king', 'Dayspring'; source: Variety.]

April 25, 2002... A source close to Artisan's Punisher movie tells IGN FilmForce that the tone for the new draft will follow Garth Ennis' recent storyline in the Marvel comic book. While FilmForce's source was hestitant to say that Ennis' story arc will be followed precisely, some characters like The Russian may appear. A script is expected in two months time. [Originally appeared on IGN FilmForce.]

October 8, 2002... Checking with their inside Punisher source, IGN FilmForce reports that there is no truth to the rumors that The Rock will play The Punisher because, and this is from their source, "'The Rock' cannot act." Oooooo, we smell a brawl coming on! [Reported by Stax on IGN FilmForce.]

December 19, 2002... We've received an unconfirmed report that on last night's program of The Late Show With Craig Kilborn, rapper Busta Rhymes announced that he's signing on for a "significant role" in The Punisher movie. Anyone else catch Craig last night? [Sent in by 'Sleepless in New York'.]

January 9, 2003... The current rumor du jour that former NFL star and now Radio Shack spokesperson Howie Long has been cast as Frank Castle in The Punisher. According to IGN
FilmForce, that's 100% not true -- but the role has been cast. FilmForce's inside source says the actor is "not a huge star, but known, very respected, and very good for the role." We think we know who it is, but our calls to Carrot Top's agent were not returned at press time. [First appeared at IGN FilmForce. OK, we're joking about that Carrot Top thing.]

January 14, 2003... Multiple movie websites have received reports from attendees of last weekend's Fangoria Weekend of Horrors convention where Dreamcatcher star Thomas Jane said he's been offered the leading role in The Punisher. As news of this circled around the Web, Access Hollywood reported today another actor who is supposedly playing another character in the film, and it's none other than Kurt Russell. According to AH,
Russell would be playing a character named "Tombstone". Russell starred in the 1993 film Tonbstone as Wyatt Earp. [Scooped by 'Payne', first mentioned on Access Hollywood.]

April 3, 2003... Thomas Jane will play The Punisher.

Marvel Studios and Artisan Pictures announced the news today in a press release, ending months of speculation that the blonde-haired actor was up for the role. THE PUNISHER movie will begin filming in July and is being pencilled in for a release sometime in the summer of 2004.

One of the film's two producers, Gale Anne Hurd, commented on the decision to cast Jane as the Marvel enforcer. "Thomas is one of our finest actors and comes from the indie world, as have other actors who've assumed Super Hero roles so successfully such as Tobey Maguire (SPIDER-MAN) and Eric Bana (THE HULK). We are thrilled that an actor of this caliber will be our Punisher."

In the Marvel Comics books, the character is a former soldier named Frank Castle who witnesses the murder of his wife and two children, accidentally gunned down by two rival mobs while on a picnic outing. Seeking a way to bring the guilty to justice, Castle outfits himself with the latest weapons, armor and equipment and systematically kills those responsible for his family's death, then goes on to bring down other criminals. He paints a white skull on the front of his body armor and is known only as "The Punisher" by the underworld.

Jane can currently be seen starring in the Warner Bros. adaptation of Stephen King's DREAMCATCHER. He has also starred in THE
SWEETEST THING, DEEP BLUE SEA and THE THIN RED LINE. [Artisan Pictures.]

April 29, 2003... Straight from Artisan Entertainment here is the first released photo of Thomas Jane as The Punisher! After first appearing on a monitor screen on last night's Access Hollywood, the studio finally released the shot to the general media late this afternoon. [Artisan Entertainment.]

April 30, 2003... Over on E! Online's 030430b.html" target="_blank">Nuff Said, their new biweekly comic book movie column, Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige said that a teaser trailer for Artisan's PUNISHER movie will be attached to Universal's HULK movie, out June 20.

"There's a teaser coming out that I swear is going to bring the house down, whether you know who the character is or not," Feige was quoted as saying.

Feige also said that Frank Castle won't be seen in the Big Apple, where he's been located for a good chunk of his comic book life. "We've [already] got a lot of heroes in New York, but it will be in an atmosphere where one would expect the Punisher," revealed Feige. [E! Online took out the hit.]

May 14, 2003... John Travolta has been hired to play the bad guy in Artisan's movie adaptation of THE PUNISHER. In the film the GREASE superstar will play an underworld player named Howard Saint who once went on the straight and narrow path, only to sink back into the criminal organization when he suffers a devastating personal loss. Sounds like Saint could be the mirror image of The Punisher himself.

Thomas Jane will play The Punisher, a.k.a. Frank Castle. In the movie version Castle was an undercover FBI agent who, on the verge of retiring, loses his entire family due to mob retaliation. Filming starts this summer for a summer '04 release. [Source: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter.]

May 16, 2003... Time to play catch-up and get updated on the latest news happening with THE PUNISHER film.

First, Artisan has released a teaser poster for the film. It should be appearing in your local multiplex starting this weekend, helping get word out about the project to the masses.

Next, Superhero Hype reports that Artisan has opened the doormat portion of its official PUNISHER website (located at punisherthemovie.com. While there's nothing else to see except for a Flash animation of the Punisher's signature skull logo, there is a ad stating the website will open its doors on June 20. You can also sign up to be noitified when there's further site updates.

Last but not least, a friend from Sy Fi Portal alerted us that the movie will be lensing in and aroundn Tampa, Florida and not New York City where the bulk of recent PUNISHER comic book tales have been set. Shooting begins this summer. [Sources include Artisan Entertainment, SyFiPortal and the St. Petersburg Times.]

June 19, 2003... A website called The Moviebox has digitized the teaser trailer for THE PUNISHER and placed it on their site. The trailer was promised to play in front of Universal's HULK movie, set to open in theaters tomorrow.

The 30-second trailer gives fans a brief tease of Thomas Jane skulking in a dark trenchcoat and wearing the character's trademark skull logo on his shirt. "My actions are not vengeance," speaks Jane during a voiceover while the camera passes over weapons, ammos and explosive. "No, not vengeance...punishment."

THE PUNISHER starts filming this August for release next summer. [The Moviebox.]

June 26, 2003... MULHOLLAND DRIVE's Laura Elena Harring and X-MEN 2's Rebecca Romijn-Stamos must like a guy who wears a skull t-shirt. Harring is signed, sealed and delivered to star in Artisan's THE PUNISHER with Romijn-Stamos's in talks and likely to sign. Harring will play the wife of mobster Howard Saint (played by John Travolta), a woman just as devious and dangerous as her beau. Filming is scheduled to begin next month in Florida. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter.]

July 8, 2003... Artisan Pictures has confirmed earlier reports that Rebecca Romijn-Stamos has landed a role in THE PUNISHER movie. Romijn-Stamos will play Joan, a character that originally appeared in Garth Ennis' relaunch of the Marvel Comics series. Described as an alluring woman who lives next door to Frank Castle (a.k.a. The Punisher), she helped the anti-hero clean up her block in Ennis' run. The actress also played the role of the blue-skinned metamorph Mystique in both X-MEN films.

"She is no stranger to the Marvel Universe on screen and will have a chance to showcase her talents in a much different role," commented Marvel Studios Avi Arad in a press release. [Artisan Pictures.]

July 25, 2003... Will Patton (THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES) and Samantha Mathis (AMERICAN PSYCHO) have been cast in Artisan's film adaptation of THE PUNISHER. Also joining the supporting cast are James Carpinello, Mark Collie, Ben Foster, John Pinette, Eddie Jamison and Russell Andrews. The first day of filming happens on August 2 in Tampa, Florida. Everything still looks good for THE PUNISHER to come out next summer in theaters. [The Hollywood Reporter.]

August 6, 2003... Earlier this week a press conference was held for Artisan's THE PUNISHER movie, now filming in Tampa, Florida. Among those attending the conference were lead actor Thomas Jane (DREAMCATCHER), director/writer Jonathan Hensleigh and producers Gale Anne Hurd and Avi Arad.

Announced at the conference was the addition of veteran actor Roy Scheider to the film's cast. Scheider is probably best remembered as Chief Brody from Steven Spielberg's JAWS.

Thanks to a correspondent for Comics 2 Film at CBR, we've been able to flesh out some of the film's remaining key production roles. Conrad W. Hall serves as the movie's director of photography; Michael Hanan is the production designer; and Lisa Tomczeszyn is the picture's costume designer.

According to the director, the movie's storyline is based in part on Garth Ennis' "Welcome Back Frank" story arc from the recent comic book relaunch as well as the older "Year One" mini-series. Hensleigh says his script is different from the one written by Michael France (CLIFFHANGER).

Star Thomas Jane says he has been preparing for the intense physical role by training with Navy SEALs. A self-professed comic book fan, Jane told the press that he felt as much a responsibility to ensure that the character of Frank Castle be brought faithfully to the screen for fans as much as his turn as Mickey Mantle in 61* was for sports fans.

Finally, producer Gale Anne Hurd commented that while the film is still scheduled for a release sometime next summer, it could come out as early as April 2004. [Comics2Film @ CBR.]

October 8, 2003... Superhero Hype has scanned in a new photo showing THE PUNISHER drawing on a bow and ready to off some bad guy. The image in question first appeared in the new issue of Time magazine. That's the second time in as many weeks that Time has been landing exclusive superhero first-looks; just last week the magazine broke the
first image of Halle Berry in her CATWOMAN costume and message boards haven't been the same since.

Check out Frank's archery skills by clicking right here. [Superhero Hype.]

October 17, 2003... Now that principal photography is complete on THE PUNISHER movie, Artisan Pictures has released a new teaser poster to build further awareness of their upcoming Marvel Comics anti-hero flick. Starring Thomas Jane as The Punisher and John Travolta as the movie's villain, Howard Saint, THE PUNISHER has an anticipated release date of April 16, 2004. It's written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, the screenwriter of ARMAGEDDON, THE ROCK, JUMANJI and DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE. This is Hensleigh's directorial debut.

November 4, 2003... Here it is kids: the first trailer for THE PUNISHER, primed and loaded for an April 2004 release. In this baby we get to see our first look at the tragic event that transforms Frank Castle into The Punisher, Frank's Dad (played by Roy Scheider), the ruthless Victor Saint (John Travolta), and of course, Frank punishing the bad guys.

January 30, 2004... The official website for THE PUNISHER has expanded and now offers you an interactive experience that serves almost as a prequel to the film. Upon entering the website now you will see a top-down view of Frank Castle's warehouse. By moving your mouse cursor you will pan around the room and find illuminated tables and items. Some of these areas are designated as "volumes", and by clicking on them your perspective will shift downward towards the tabletop. Clicking on the items will then bring up menus, diary entries, letters and even access to mock webpages where you can read surveillance information on Howard Saint (the criminal that Castle is trying to take down). There's even a website called "FamilyTrack.net" that is made to look like an online homepage for the extended Castle family!

You can check out this early buzz goodness by hitting THE PUNISHER movie website. Artisan releases THE PUNISHER in theaters on April 16.

February 11, 2004... Music From the Movies is reporting that Italian composer Carlo Siliotto has been hired to write the score for THE PUNISHER movie.

This is Siliotto's big break into the North American movie market. While Siliotto has been writing the scores for dozens of television shows and feature films over the past two decades, his work is primarily known only to Italian cinemaphiles. He recently scored the soundtrack for the TNT produced mini-series JULIUS CAESAR. [Music From the Movies.]

February 23, 2004... A new trailer for THE PUNISHER has gone up at Yahoo Movies and it may be the best yet for the upcoming Lions Gate Films movie (now that Artisan was bought out by Lions Gate.) In it we get to see the story arc for the film: man loses wife, child and entire family; man seeks revenge upon those who took away his wife, child and entire family; a lot more people die but man still doesn't get back his wife, child and entire family. It's a timeless tale once told by Shakespeare and now by Marvel/Lions Gate, ain't it?

Seriously, the cool factor is raised by showing us The Punisher standing on a bridge wearing his trademark black overcoat and skull t-shirt. Without knowing how the film will turn out, at least Thomas Jane looks hardcore in the part of Frank Castle/The Punisher. That is a neat knife trick, right?

Get the trailer right here. [Yahoo Movies.]

Official Web Site:

www.punisherthemovie.com