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Punisher 2's Director Scuffle
by Alex Billington
June 12, 2007
Source: Collider.com, JoBlo
This sequel is really getting butchered. With so much happening to it, and for that matter, so much negative news, I don't know how it'll ever turn out good anymore. The quintessential Frank Castle, known in real life as actor Thomas Jane, who played Punisher in the first film from 2004, already left the sequel a month back, saying "what I won't do is spend months of my life sweating over a movie that I just don't believe in". Now without a primary actor to fill the role, the film seems to be running into more troubles. The director that was supposed to be directing Punisher 2 is actually not. Now it's a new girl, known by her first film Green Street Hooligans, who will supposedly be taking on Punisher 2.
The news that director John Dahl (Rounders, You Kill Me), who was originally thought to be directing Punisher 2, is no longer doing so, comes from Collider.com. They confirmed in a very recent interview that he decided to pass on the project. His reasons? The same kind of concerns that Thomas Jane had when he left.
"I love the idea of a kick-ass vigilante that's got a really black sense of humor that can throw three people into a trash can and light them on fire and walk away while they're screaming. That just sounded funny to me. But I wasn't sure that the script could really get there, that it would have that sense of humor. And it also felt like it had too much baggage, not in a bad way… there was just too much… I'd be sort of digging myself out of a hole right from the beginning."
Following that announcement came a rumor from JoBlo that a new director had been found - Lexi Alexander. Yes, that's her in the photo to the right and watch out, she's a champion kickboxer. Known so far only by Green Street Hooligans, a great film, she may be an interesting choice to direct Punisher 2 - but the right one? We can't yet say. This film almost seems doomed now, and there would be a lot to work on and a lot to fix for anyone to salvage it into something good.
As JoBlo speculates, this project may end up getting shoved off as a straight-to-DVD release instead of anything theatrical. And given the current progression of news and troubles that it's encountering, I am starting to believe that, too.
Reader Feedback - 5 Comments
1
It's not goign straight to DVD. LGF is in contract with the character to make feature films (live action) only for the theatre. Not straight to DVD. 🙂
Me on Jun 12, 2007
2
3
this is painful. but the solution i believe is simple. get jane back and let him the director if it should Lexi Alexander and others,to sort out the problems.i would not mind waiting longer. its a bad script.but Lexi Alexander should have enough know how to see she has a possible great film on her hands but that needs mending. and i stress the need to lure jane bsack.but that will only happen if the script is improved.
steven on Jun 13, 2007
4
Since Ray Stevenson has been added ot the cast, I think this movie is going to be great. Ms. Alexander has an Oscar nomination already and she is still very young. Ray absolutely stole every "Rome" scene he was in.
pat on Jul 25, 2007
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I personally would love to see Thomas Jane return as the punisher or even Dolph Lundren as he did well in his version i think it might even be a great series with the punisher deliverin his own kinda justice i think thats alot whats wrong these days that the criminals are just gettin away with murder i was impresed by thomas jane and as far as directors there are a ton that would do a great job but i kinda agree that if you cant feel and appreciate the role just move on to the next actor as we all know theres alot of great actors that could do a great job in punisher2 I for 1 cant wait to see it SO PLEASE GET IT TOGETHER THANK YOU
kenneth taylor on Mar 9, 2008
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