Stevenson is the new PUNISHER

Awesome. This guy was fantastic on "Rome". Then again he was also in "The Cave"...let's hope the next movie has some good writing that is up to par with the type of performance this guy is capable of giving.

I most definitely agree with you, TKay.

When I heard this news, I was very pleased. Ray Stevenson showed versatile talent in Rome. The picture I used from above was from one of my favorite performances from him in it. By the end of that show, I was nearly moved to tears.

I don't think Thomas Jane did that bad a job himself but getting Ray Stevenson is definitely a step in the right director for future Punisher movies.

I'm also glad he got a "leading" role. He fuckin deserves it. :)

Jarrod Sarafin

I second all that you said, TKay and DarkJedi. Although Thomas Jane is a nice actor, I felt that he never gave that imposing, dread vibe the character demands. Ray Stevenson in the other hand, is all about that, plus a strong actor capable of bring out all the depth and drama of Frank Castle. Great choice.

The Punisher has a lot of potential and his two previous cinematic incarnations failed to make him justice. Let’s hope the rest of the movie keep going that well.

Thom Jane was fine. The 2004 Punisher's problem involved the villains the lack of money involved. John Travolta's acting was appalling and the opening where the family is executed was tasteless. The scene could have worked but the cinematography was rushed. The fights between The Punisher and the Russian and the scene where he is serenaded by the other hitman were pretty good. Butthe relationships with Travolta and any one he was friends with just were hard to watch.

And Lundgren's Punisher had some fun stuff as well. I thoought Dolph did a great job but again it was a 80's comic flick so you cant really expect French Connection unless you were making BATMAN

I like the Punisher but I'm not a big Punisher fan, I don't know his comics history that well. Anyway, Thomas Jane was 33 when the first film was made, Dolph Lundgren was 30 when his Punisher was made. This guy will be 43/44 when Punisher 2 gets made. How old is the Punisher supposed to be in the comics? This Stevenson guy looks old, at least from that pic anyway.

EXCELLENT choice! Now, I just hope the script is not as dreadful as Jane lead us to believe.

Loved Thomas Jane as the Punisher although the movie was enjoyable not at the top of my favorites. I have enjoyed Stevenson in everything he has done (one of the few who really enjoyed King Arthur) especially Rome. I think he will be a great Punisher, definitely think he will be more menacing.

Wait a minute - when was it announced that Jane would not be coming back for Punisher 2? I admit, I don't know the comic book series that well, so I can't say how old Jane was in relation to the actual character. I did, however, really like Jane in the role. My issues with the movie involved the "comedy" and the musical score. I thought the jokes didn't fly well and the music overall didn't suit the tone of the film. Had the music featured more of a hard rock or electric feel it would've suited the film more. As for the comedy, maybe I just wasn't expecting much of a laugh riot in a movie about a guy seeking revenge for the death of his family (although Punisher's final line about where people can look him up in the obituaries section of the newspaper was perfect in my opinion).

rgtchtiger a few months ago its announced that one of the writers of THE SHIELD was hired to work out the script. Aabout a month or so later Thomas Jane sent out a letter to I believe either comingsoon.net or superherohype.com saying that he could not stay on with a project he did not believe in. He said he enjoyed working with the guys at Marvel but he was not happy with the direction the project it was taking. He said he hopes to find a character in the Marvel Universe he can do that will make fans happy but that THE PUNISHER was no longer that character. I believe he was recently or is up for a role in WATCHMEN.

Correct me if I am wrong.

I think he would be great as either CABLE(just picture him with white hair) or DEADPOOL.

I find in my opinion, that it always boils down to the same thing, they get non-fans who don't either get or enjoy the source material to make these movies, so they "re-imagine" the hell out of things until they no longer really resemble the original. Then they wonder why there's this backlash and the flick bombs. In the Punisher, the only real humor involved is directly from the Frank himself, and it's supposed to be insanely macabre, because thats how he copes with doing these awful things in the name of justice. Sometimes, he's wrong, sometimes he's right. He's supposed to be an anti-hero, a psychopath you root for, but still a psycho ala Batman. Jane was good, but still too nice guy boyscout for the tone of what the Punisher should be.