ROTTEN TOMATOES: Thomas Jane Revives "Punisher 2" Talk

Thomas Jane Revives "Punisher 2" Talk

by Jen Yamato | October 12, 2006

After comic-book revenge pic "The Punisher" underwhelmed at the box office (and with critics) back in 2004, surprising DVD sales helped buoy sequel talk...for a bit. Now, star Thomas Jane is talking "Punisher 2" again, and it looks like we may actually see Frank Castle put the beat down on criminals in the near future.

MTV has word from Jane that the "Punisher" sequel script is on its way: "The script comes in a couple of weeks, and it's going to be darker, bloodier and more unfriendly than the first one," Jane confirmed.

Jane in 2004's "The Punisher"

According to IMDB.com, the script is being written by "Punisher" writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh, who previously wrote the screenplays for "Die Hard: With A Vengeance," "Jumanji," and "Armageddon."

Back in August, Jane told WizardUniverse.com that he hoped filming would begin in February 2007, and that Punisher nemesis Jigsaw would be in the film. He also said Hensleigh would not be back to direct, although Hensleigh has previously expressed interest in reteaming with Jane on the sequel.

Upon its theatrical debut in April 2004, "The Punisher" (budgeted at $33 million) made only $13 million opening weekend, and grossed $33 million in its domestic run. At 28 percent on the Tomatometer, it also gave helmer Hensleigh his lowest T-meter score to date. Had the DVD release not gone so well -- to the tune of $40 million -- it's unlikely that Lionsgate would have given the Marvel character its second cinematic run (third, if you count Dolph Lundgren's 1989 direct-to-video version).

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(1-16 of 16 posts) | Reply

Thre31189 writes:
on Oct 12 2006 01:18 PM

I had no problem with the Punisher thought it was a good violent comic book movie and thought Thomas Jane did a good job with it

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donkeytron writes:
on Oct 12 2006 03:04 PM

[b]I've heard all this before.[/b]
What's darker, bloodier and more unfriendly if you keep missing the target? When are the makers of these things gonna learn that it takes REAL fans of the books to bring what makes them great to the screen? 'Man On Fire' was a helluva lot closer to the books than this movie. They don't get it, never will. Stop already.

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Darkness My Old Friend writes:
on Oct 12 2006 04:35 PM

I'm waiting on Homeless Dad 2.

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chazbow writes:
on Oct 12 2006 09:02 PM

[b]This is good news[/b]
I really hope this sequel gets made. "The Punisher" of 2004 was an entertaining throwback to the kind of Charles Bronson vigilante movies I grew up watching. I'm actually looking forward to the extended edition DVD coming on 11/21.

They'll need a strong villain for "Punisher 2." It was rumored months ago that Michael Keaton might play Jigsaw. For fans of the comic, is Keaton a good choice? Who would you choose for Jigsaw?

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Captain Shimmy writes:
on Oct 13 2006 01:06 AM

I think Keaton could play a good Jigsaw. I could actually see Benicio Del Toro playing a good Jigsaw too.

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Raziel5000 writes:
on Oct 13 2006 02:21 AM

[b]Please, please, please[/b]
I really hope they get it right this time. The first one had its moments, without doubt, but I think they missed the mark with the tone of the film when compered to the comic books (I'm refering to the latest Garth Ennins efforts as opposed to the earlier days).
For me, Castle needs to be more aggressive and lethal - thats what he's all about. I couldnt believe it when he started putting down fire hydrants in the first one and concocted that plan with the parking tickets. Thats not what the Punisher does. He's out to hurt and punish those who he deems guilty. Not pussy foot around. Case in point, when Caslte need information out of someone: in the movie he ties a guy up and pretends to blowtorch the guy using an ice lolly and some meat. Too cutesy. In the comic book The Slavers, he cuts a guy open in a forest and, whilst keeping him alive for a while, ties his intestines from his guts to the trees. Pretty extreme. The whole appeal of the Punisher (for me) is how close he is to being a psychotic criminal himself. Plus he's hard as hell and much tougher than shown in the film.

I totally agree with the points raised about the villain, he needs to be much stronger in the sequal. Travolta was okay, but his character wasn't up to much. And its bad enough Hensleigh is writing the thing - DONT LET HIM DIRECT! He almost killed the first one with those bloody flashes of thunder when Castle was mad. He added way to much cheese to a film that should have been dark and serious.

On the plus side, Jane is fantastic as Castle and put in a great portrayal. I think he's just about got the part nailed.

Oh, and more action / violence is needed. There was only three or so amin action scenes in the first (which were hardly great) and it tended to drag. Sorry to get on my soap box but I'm just a fan of the character (I dont read any other comic books) and think it could make for a hell of a film if done right.

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lonechicken writes:
on Oct 13 2006 05:57 AM

It might as well just not be a part of the Marvel Universe. Because really, why would Angel and Mystique be masquerading as tennants of a slummy apartment building where Punisher moved in?

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Raziel5000 writes:
on Oct 13 2006 06:11 AM

In reply to this comment (#846454)
Erm, they wouldn't.

I dont follow this, what has Angel and Mystique (who I'm guessing are characters in the Marvel universe) got to do with The Punisher film? Or The Punisher in general?

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aconline writes:
on Oct 13 2006 06:14 AM

I DONT LIKE WHEN ACTORS AND ACTRESSES GET INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE COMIC BOOK. It usally hurts the film. As lonechicken pointed out, Angel and Mystique live in the building that Punisher moves into. Or did the dumpy guy move out of the apartment and grow wings?? X3 sucked, maybe it was his fault. With the rumors of Famke joining the cast of Iron Man, I am starting to lose faith in that movie already. Cyclops went off to become the nephew of Perry White. Just hope that the Punisher 2 is as fun to watch as the the first. The novelization of the first film had a lot more plot to it than the movie showed. I am looking forward to the extended edition, too. I hope that it adds the story lines that were cut from the book.

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Raziel5000 writes:
on Oct 13 2006 06:44 AM

In reply to this comment (#846456)
[b]Ahhhhhh[/b]
I've just clicked! Rebbecca whateverhername is was in X-Men (as Mystique I guess) and I'm assuming that the guy who played Dave (with the peircings) went on to play Angel in the third X-men?

I was a bit slow on the uptake there (sorry lonechicken). Yeah, I agree, it works best as a stand alone film rather than conforming to the Marvel universe (which the Punisher stories tend to do anyway).

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the-russian writes:
on Oct 13 2006 08:20 AM

In reply to this comment (#846456)
What do you guys like CRINGE and WEEP when you see actors and actresses playing different roles on different movies adapted from comic books? No offense, really, but get a life. Did you guys cry yourselves to sleep when you saw Lou Ferrigno playing a security guard in the 2003 Hulk film or Michael Clarke Duncan playing Manute in Sin City after he played The Kingpin in Daredevil? Come on...

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aconline writes:
on Oct 13 2006 09:39 AM

In reply to this comment (#846458)
Yes, I cry every night.

I dont really care, I just find it odd. Kinda like when Joe Don Baker played the bad guy in The Living Daylights, and then was a good guy in Goldeneye. Makes a for a weird feeling.

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Mikeal420 writes:
on Oct 16 2006 10:57 AM

I had absolutly no idea there was a Punisher movie 2 years back, where was it released????

I remember a version back in the early 90's with Dalph Lundgren, was it at least better than that???

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Infernal writes:
on Oct 17 2006 07:40 AM

A terribly dull film, with a couple spicy action scenes.

I'll send out a few prayers for this second one.

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burn_the_horizon92 writes:
on Apr 14 2008 09:44 PM

are we all sure that thomas jane is playing frank castle/the punisher for the sequel??
i dunna know...i look at imdb.com and it said that someone else was playing the part of frank castle. someone please tell me that isn't true.

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kegs686 writes:
on May 29 2008 08:41 PM

ray stevenson is playing the punisher in the second movie, i heard tom jane didnt want the role after he read the script

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