First Look: Ray Stevenson in ‘Punisher: War Zone’

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 6, 2007

Pictured Above: Ray Stevenson as Frank Castle in Punisher: War Zone. Courtesy of Lionsgate.

The folks at Lionsgate were so gracious as to provide Coming Soon with a first look at Rome star Ray Stevenson as Frank Castle in next year’s Punisher: War Zone. The film is a series re-boot being directed by Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans) and is being produced under the watchful eye of Marvel chief Avi Arad.

Many in the comic films world are hesitant to get on the bus with this one after the fallout between producers and Thomas Jane, who starred as Frank Castle in 2004’s The Punisher. In an interview with Cinematical, Lexi Alexander promised fans that War Zone “definitely will be a Hard R, and luckily Lionsgate’s been great about it. They haven’t given me any guidelines in terms of violence. I think they’re a real good studio to make a violent movie, and I really like violent movies. So it’s definitely going to be a Hard R.”

She also went on to clear up whether or not this will be an extension of the previous film or a complete re-boot, saying “with Castle, it’s one story — the mythology stays the same — and I think I just have a very very different take on it. I was lucky to put it in the right environment, which was dark and cold.”

It appears, at least to me, that Lexi Alexander has her head on straight when it comes to the flick. Although, I can’t say that I am a fan of Stevenson’s look as Castle. Maybe it’s just me, maybe I need to see more, but he doesn’t look as iconic as Jane did in the same role. Then again, I am not into the Punisher lore, making me a very unreliable source when it comes to the accuracy of the character. All I can say is that I loved the Jane version. You can draw your own conclusions from there.

Up for Discussion: Which look do you prefer, Stevenson or Jane as the Punisher?


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  • Yes, especially since the first Punisher was so spectacularly good that it requires a sequel. And frankly, Stevenson looks entirely too much like Steven Seagal for my tastes.
  • Steve -- I was thinking the same thing. At first I thought wait, is that Steven Seagal? And that is never good. Especially if you want people to take your movie seriously.
  • Tommy
    I agree with both of you. That guy looks WAY too much like Segal, I loved the old PUnisher movie, the guy was awesome as Castle
  • Dean
    Shame that this is the first picture they chose to release, because Stevenson looks absolutely nothing like Seagal, but I have to agree that this picture gives that vibe. I thought Stevenson was fantastic in Rome, so I'm looking forward to much better pictures.
  • It's a horrible picture to start with. Number one, he looks a bit like Seagal like everyone said, also he looks plastic, like the Ronnie mask in "The Tripper." Also, the gun was a weak-poop looking Grenade launcher attached to it. Totally doesn't look as cool as the M203.

    Thomas Jane was a great Frank Castle and Punisher. The Punisher movie was/is way under rated. I really like it. It was a great set up movie. The sequel with Jane was supposed to be dark and would have kicked ass.

    Now that Jane left because he didn't like where the script was going, who knows. Poor image. Jane was awesome. Looking forward to this movie less and less. (And I'm someone who wanted a sequel)
  • bugs
    Am I the only one who thought The first Punisher sucked? It sucked, c'mon!
    I think Thomas Jane is an excellent actor but he's no Frank Castle. Lundgren was much better but he was no Punisher either. Seagal would have made a TERRIFIC Punisher. Just don't give him any lines and presto!
    Any new Punisher movie will be better than the last one. I was ASHAMED to call myself a Punisher fan after that. Bad plot, bad direction, bad script. It was a disgrace. I look back on 86 and I say, THAT movie wasn't bad.
    Information,Surveillance,Planning,Punishment. That's it. That's Castle.
    I don't want an introspective character giving us an exposé on our society. I want a ruthless, remorseless and determined SOCIOPATH strategically exacting brutal and relentless punishment on criminals. Why criminals? Because he hates them. Period. That's his psychosis. That's the exposé.
    Hopefully, Stevenson will manage. So far, his look is better than Jane's. My opinion.
    Peace.
  • Sabrewraith
    First thing is first. This film is not a sequel. The only thing it has to do with the other 2 movies is the main character. Read the interviews with the director. As far as not having Tom Jane return as Frank Castle/Punisher I was upset at first, but then remembered how mad I was when I found out he was going to be the Punisher in the last one because he really did not have the size or look. After seeing him as the Punisher I was thrilled and could not imagine someone taking over. Then I seen pics of Ray Stevenson. This man is the Punisher. Give the man a chance, I know he looks like Steven Seagal when you look at the way he is squinting his eyes with his face hidden behind the rifle, but unlike Steven Seagal, Ray Stevenson can open his eyes all the way up again when he’s done shooting. Sorry mister Seagal.
    The launcher on the rifle is seen on a lot of Heckler and Koch weapons (I think Ray is holding a HK 416 and not a M4).
  • HellMonarch
    i wanted a sequal so bad but now not so much because Jane is the true punisher in my heart nowon else.
  • BigBoy Floyd
    The Jane Punisher was awful. A B-Film, at best.
    Suddenly, the death of his wife and kids wasn't enough to illustrate the depth of his loss. They had to wipe out his ENTIRE family (about 50, what?), conveniently gathered together, hours after their death certficates were issued, to have that particular ramification impressed upon us with the pathos that it desrves. "Oh, so he wants to kill them all, ooohhhhhh, I didn't get that." Movie was 5 minutes old and I was out of it.
    Piecieng scenes together straight out of the comics while depriving us of the IMPACT of those scenes. Brilliant. The lollipop scene. The Heck Thornton scene. His neighbors. The Russian fight! It's like they purposefully set out to mangle that character by crafting crappy rip-offs. Who was Travolta supposed TO BE, anyway? Oh yeah, the signed actor to sell the concept to the producers.
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Punisher supposed to scare the hell out of people? Thomas Jane couldn't scare a kitten. He's good against sharks, though, I'll give him that. How did he get the part? By auditioning? Hah! By being the only FACE anyone recognized.
    I look at the picture up top and yeah, the guy does look like Seagal.
    But he also looks like The Punisher. Anyone says Jane did has to give me the name of their oculist.
    I look forward to the film as look forward to everything the Punisher does.
    I am confident this movie won't be as awful as the previous one(s).
  • Marshall B
    If you read the comic book especially the Welcome Back Frank Series this new guy looks much more like the Punisher then Thomas Jane. I thought Thomas Jane did a good job but I am excited to see how this movie is.
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