ROTTEN TOMATOES: New Director and Lead for Punisher 2

New Director and Lead for Punisher 2

A female director and a Roman warrior...

by Scott Weinberg | July 23, 2007

You may have heard that The Punisher 2 will be directed by German filmmaker Lexi Alexander, but now we have word on who'll actually be playing the guy. (And no, it's still not Thomas Jane.)

If you saw the film Hooligans (a.k.a. Green Street Hooligans) then you're already familiar with Ms. Alexander's work. And if you were a big fan of HBO's Rome mini-series, then you've already met the new Punisher.

According to Latino Review, the lead actor on The Punisher 2 will be Ray Stevenson, who played Titus Pullo on the HBO series (which I really need to put into my Netflix queue already). Movie fans may remember Mr. Stevenson from his performance in Antoine Fuqua's King Arthur ... but all I remember about that movie is the nifty ice sequence and Keira Knightley painted blue.

No word yet on when Punisher 2 is getting started, but with a director and a lead on board, it should be rolling soon. And I think we're all still assuming this is a direct-to-video sequel, right?

Source: Latino Review

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(1-19 of 19 posts) | Reply

DanielLee8793 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 09:52 AM

Green Street Hooligans was an awsome ****ing movie. Anyone who has not seen the movie go out and rent it now. Ill see this new punisher...

(Reply to this)

Nomad661 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 10:29 AM

In reply to this comment (#964296)

" And I think we're all still assuming this is a direct-to-video sequel, right?"

No, I think we CANNOT assume any such thing. With Ray Stevenson, a very fine actor as well as a hunk, Marvel just upped the ante considerably.

You need to add "Rome" to your queue? You've not seen one of the best programs on television in years, with a very fine ensemble cast, yet are willing to go out on a limb hypothesizing direct to video for The Punisher?

*pats you on the head, sits you down in front of the tv, sets you to watching a 22 hour marathon of "Rome"*

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Gimy writes:
on Jul 23 2007 10:38 AM

not REALLY diggin' on the Stevenson casting choice...but i will agree Hooligans was the sh3t. it was so good i ACTUALLY watched the world cup because of it...and i d3mn near hate soccer. reminded me of a better written, smoother...Fight Club...

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BuckyUnderbelly writes:
on Jul 23 2007 11:08 AM

Ray Stevenson is a tremendous choice for this role. If you watched Rome, you already know he's a very physically imposing guy AND that he's also a fine, fine actor. I believe he's actually a more versatile performer than Tom Jane and I think he looks more the part.

Stevenson's not a pretty-boy gym-rat. He's much more of a bruiser, with an old-school physique ... something akin to Russell Crowe's build in Gladiator. Strong and gristly rather than toned and waxed. He just looks like the kind of guy who gets his exercise by guzzling a flask of whiskey and beating scumbags to dust in darkened alleys ... instead of working the eliptical at Gold's Gym and watching his carbs.

But in spite of his imposing physicality, he's actually the most emotionally sympathetic character on Rome. He's got a softer, even vulnerable side. He was really the heart and soul of that show.

Terrific actor and a terrific choice.

It's definitely a step in the right direction. Now let's hope the rest of their choices for this film are as good!

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AlbertBrodsky writes:
on Jul 23 2007 01:36 PM

What the hell, Weinberg? Ray Stevenson is one of the best actors I've seen on television in years. This is perfect casting as long as he can do an american accent. He's one mean s.o.b. I might see this flick, even though the first one sucked eggs.

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imbroco writes:
on Jul 23 2007 01:53 PM

I'll have to see this one to be convinced... not a big fan of that actor, but hey, if he does it well, who's to complain.

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Merlin235 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 02:59 PM

Lets be honest: put a bunch of black on the guy and a bunch of guns and knives and bullets....pertty mcuh anyone can look like The Punisher. I'm sure he'll do fine....in a franchise I don't really care about anyways but that's another issue.

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Nomad661 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 05:10 PM

OOF! I'm in love with BuckyUnderbelly and AlbertBrodsky!

(Reply to this)

LowBalls writes:
on Jul 23 2007 05:41 PM

Titus Pullo? My god....thats awesome. For those who have never seen Rome, Titus Pullo was a Roman era version of The Punisher, except happy sometimes, but a blood thirsty morose killing machine the rest of the time. Great casting.

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blinkuldhc writes:
on Jul 23 2007 07:17 PM

How are we so sure that this is direct to video? The first one made $115 million in total revenue (tix dvds) despite a $14 million budget. If they loosen the purse strings a bit and put a little more action, the 2nd one might be good. Although, I did like Thomas Jane in the role.

(Reply to this)

RandomVirus writes:
on Jul 23 2007 07:55 PM

Kinda torn here... Thomas Jane was spot on with his Frank Castle, and it was pretty close to Garth Ennis' Welcome Back Frank storyline. In fact, look at the cover-art for the Punisher Max series, and Thomas Jane looks a lot like the guy, which would be Tim Bradstreet's art.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n24/n120154.jpg

On the other hand...

Stevenson actually looks like the Frank Castle character that appears inside of the story on the pages.

http://l.yimg.com/img.tv.yahoo.com/tv/us/img/site/49/33/0000034933_20061021035740.jpg

And Frank

http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?srv=img4&y=2007&m=07&t=jpg&img=23-201511L&rand=4989&zoom=yes

(Reply to this)

Nomad661 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 10:14 PM

These may be a better comparison for The Punisher "look." The first is is a Punisher action figure, obviously, the others are from a role Ray did on Red Cap, a Brit telly show like JAG or NCIS. There are two from an as yet unreleased film called Outpost, a military/horror film being distributed by Sony.

If Ray isn't the perfect Frank Castle, I don't know who is. Jane looked nothing like him.

http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/NomadsPics/The Punisher/

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the-russian writes:
on Jul 23 2007 10:47 PM

I don't think Stevenson or Jane look the part, but who's really to say? The Punisher in the comics looks extremely from series to series, from the 80's and early 90's stuff, to the recent Ennis stuff. Even in the Marvel Knights series, Punisher on the covers (Bradstreet art) is EXTREMELY different than how he's portrayed inside the book (Dillon art). I think that's what makes Merlin pretty much correct: dye his hair black, give him guns, make him pissed as hell and completely out of touch w/ reality, and he should to pretty well.

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bgko18 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 11:50 PM

It doesn't really matter who the director or lead is as long as the script is bad. Thomas Jane obviously has little faith in it. Their probably toning it down in order to market it to a larger audience given the box office disappointment of the first one. I hope not because Punisher and PG-13 don't go together.

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bgko18 writes:
on Jul 23 2007 11:51 PM

It doesn't really matter who the director or lead is as long as the script is bad. Thomas Jane obviously has little faith in it. Their probably toning it down in order to market it to a larger audience given the box office disappointment of the first one. I hope not because Punisher and PG-13 don't go together.

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Nomad661 writes:
on Jul 24 2007 04:48 AM

We don't know the script is bad. All we know is that Jane withdrew. It may not be as it looks. We only have his rather whiney statement, and have heard nothing from the other side. One thing is sure...whatever Jane wanted in order to remain on the film, it wasn't thought worth it to give it to him, neh?

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Vitamin M writes:
on Jul 24 2007 07:17 AM

I really liked Jane, I enjoyed the first one but it wasn't a real punisher film. the director sounds like someone who could go a little darker which is what the movie needs. no corny John travolta villain. we need a hardcore bad *** villian and a hardercore bad *** Punisher to deal with said villain.
but yeah I agree if they can make a great script then I'll be happy...if it's another blah script then I'll be sad no matter who is acting or directing the thing.

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Camamar writes:
on Jul 31 2007 06:20 PM

If you haven't seen Ray Stevenson as Titus Pullo, do yourself a favor and watch both seasons of Rome. He can bring the punishment, and he brings the acting chops big time.

He also is one sexy, delicious-looking REAL man, as opposed to some pretty boy. I figure some of you guys don't care about that...but it should bring more ladies into the theater to see the film.

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killermonkey8822 writes:
on Aug 05 2007 02:15 AM

so, they have a new and better director..... i personally did not really like the punisher that much, as it could have amounted to so much more...... i would say just re-do the entire series.

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