Punisher: War Zone
Despite the simple apparatus of the reference , The Punisherhas had a surprisingly tricky metre on the self-aggrandizing screen . There have been three attempt thus far to work the comedian into a movie enfranchisement - first up was the 1989 version starring Dolph Lundgren , then came Thomas Jane’sThe Punisherin 2004 , and finally , Punisher : War Zonewith Ray Stevenson in 2008 .
Out of all those attack , the Jane version was easy the most successful financially , but even then it suffered mediocre reviews and fail to launch sequel . Of course , Frank Castle finally found his foothold with Jon Bernthal ’s take on the part in time of year two of Netflix’sDaredevil , where he leaven so pop that Marvel quickly greenlit a extremely anticipated solo series .
All three motion-picture show suffer pitiful decisive notices upon discharge , but in the years since , they ’ve become famous cult picture , withWar Zonein particular coming to be considered a hyper - tearing but underrated precious stone by fans of the comedian . The output account and trifle behind each of the three movies are entrancing in their own way , featuring alternate cast , edit scenes , and sequels that never happened .
beforehand of the launching ofthe NetflixPunisherseries , let ’s revisit the three movie and divulge some of the most fascinating facts you may not love about them .
Christoper Lambert And Steven Seagal Almost Starred
The modest budget forThe Punisher1989 ruled out apprehend any huge names like Sylvester Stallone for the claim role , but a few well - known faces were consider . Highlanderstar Christopher Lambert was go about to play Frank Castle , but when the director meet with him , he was on crutch from a late injury , rein him out of the highly physical role .
Steven Seagal , who at the time had only starred inNico : Above The Law , was also considered , but he was busybodied on other projection . While Seagal does n’t have the muscley physique the character is experience for , his martial artistry and weapons attainment would have made him an interesting selection .
Finally , Michael Pare , star of cult 1980s movies likeStreets Of Fire , was briefly think , but the producers quickly decide that Dolph Lundgren was the ideal choice .
The Punisher’s Missing Logo
One of the biggest letdown about the firstPunishermovie is that the reference never dons his famed skull logotype . Director Mark Goldblatt vetoed the idea , feeling it would face too silly and mirthful booky , where he wanted a more clean down look ; he ’s since fink that this was a mistake .
Screenwriter Boaz Yakin was also disappointed with the choice , and write a variation of the closing curtain where Castle spray paints his logo onto trunk armor before head into battle with the Yakuza . Again , the director felt it would look ridiculous , so the idea was quarrel .
The logo can still be seen in the flick though , as the various daggers the fiber uses featured his symbol on the handle . The nebuliser painted consistence armor idea also found its way into the 2004Punishermovie .
The Batman 1989 Injoke
Any moving-picture show fan who were around in 1989 will rememberTim Burton’sBatmandominated the summer , becoming a huge smash hit and a landmark for comic Word of God movies . The same ca n’t be said forThe Punisher1989 , however , which scarce made a fraction of its nearest rival at the box office .
The two films were in production around the same sentence , so director Goldblatt settle to add a little easter egg for fan of the DC Comics character . When Castle is being torture on the wrack , he ’s ask by the malefic Yakuza Bos who sent him . “ Batman , ” is the deadpan reaction .
Goldblatt was slenderly afraid fans would take this as an insult , but the gag is watch as a sound - natured thrusting towards the film that would eventuallydestroy itat the box office .
A Fifteen Minute Prologue Was Cut
WhenThe Punisher1989 begins , Frank Castlehas operate as a vigilante for over five old age , but in the original cut , spectator were given a lengthy introduction to Castle before he became The Punisher .
This opening section included Frank ’s home life with his married woman and kids , his friendly relationship with his partner ( meet by Louis Gossett Jr. ) , and their failed bust on the gangster the Punisher pop in the plastic film ’s theatrical opening . This plane section also shows the death of Castle ’s family in a car bomb , which is briefly glimpse during a flashback in the movie .
While this unused opening is an interesting rarity for fans , it was the right move to cut it . The movie does n’t miss any of the deleted footage , and it likely would have slow up the story down .
Stan Lee Hated It
It ’s well have it off that Marvel did n’t have much luck twist their properties into movies during the fourscore and mid-nineties . Hard as it is to consider now , studio did n’t really see the value in selling superheroes on the self-aggrandizing screen , so often , the rights end up in hands of boron - moving picture producers who only wanted to trade a movie based on the far-famed title .
The 1990Captain Americaand the unreleased 1994Fantastic Fourmovie are two examples , and Stan Lee ’s dislike of the 1970s live - actionSpider - Manshowis well - know . He was n’t fond of Dolph ’s take onThe Punishereither , with theatre director Mark Goldblatt bring out that Lee – who acted as a consultant for the movie - found it “ too tearing ” . The mirthful fable seems humiliated whenever it ’s bring up in interviews .
The Punisherwas also made in a meter before Lee’sfamous cameo , so sadly , he does n’t appear in the movie .
It Went Straight To Video In The U.S.
While Dolph’sPunisherwent theatrical in most territories , it went straight to VHS in the U.S. There were a twosome of factors in this , including the dire financial straits of the studio behind it . They told the director if he was unforced to pay for the cost of marketing and print himself , they ’d consider a theatrical push button in America , but he ( wisely ) declined .
second , Dolph Lundgren’smost late star vehicle at the meter , Red Scorpion , neglect to make much of a dent upon its discharge , with many studios at the fourth dimension suffer faith in the player ’s ability to open a movie .
The disconfirming reviews ofThe Punisherdidn’t help either , but on the bright side , it did well on telecasting upon release and has since become something of a cult favorite .
Thomas Jane Accidentally Stabbed Kevin Nash During The Russian Fight
The apartment fight between Frank Castle and The Russian in theWelcome Back Frankcomic serial publication was instantly iconic , so director Jonathan Hensleigh was wise to bring it over to the 2004 film . This scene is the action high spot , where Thomas Jane ’s Castly has to oppose off Kevin Nash ’s almost unkillable torpedo .
The two actors really got into their roles during cinematography , to the point that Jane forget to switch out a substantial knife for a prop one . This resulted in him accidentally stabbing his co - mavin , but Nash was so hype up that he did n’t realize what happened during the take .
Jane was naturally full of apologies afterwards , but he was also the dupe of an on - set mishap . In the prospect where Joan is sewing his wounds , co - star Rebecca Romijn accidentally broke peel for a few stitches ; Jane did n’t say anything until the take was finished .
Microchip Was Cut From The Script
Microchip , the high - tech brother to the murderous vigilance man , is a dissentious reference forPunisherfans . Micro – aka David Lieberman – provided Castle with weapons , intel , and even abattle van , but this epoch is one most rooter of the comedian do n’t wish all that much . They want the Punisher to be a rifle out , alone wolf character , and this buddy element was n’t welcome .
This corner of the fanbase includedPunisher2004 helmer Jonathan Hensleigh , who have Micro in a couple of other drafts . He ultimately snipped the character out because he wanted to keep the story relatively skimpy ; that , and he just apparently does n’t like Microchip as a character .
The character would eventually show up inPunisher : War Zoneplayed by Wayne Knight , where he provided some nice comic backup man in between gory set pieces ( let in his own brutal destruction ) .
The Unknown Animated Prologue
Hensleigh lamented in various interviews about his small-scale budget forThe Punisher , which leave to key scenes being scale down or cut completely . This included his be after gap - a Kuwait battle scene where Castle saves his friend Jimmy Weeks from an ambush .
At the closing of this tantrum , Castle do a alternative that results in the destruction of another soldier , which has an impact on his action later in the write up . The theatre director feel this was a crucial moment , but there was no way in the budget to film it .
The Punisherproved to be a solid hit on DVD , so when it came time to produce an extended stinger , the director decided to add an animated version of the aspect . This sequence is a lilliputian too crummy to be really in force , but it ’s an interesting tidbit for those who liked the movie .
The Dirty Laundry Short Was Thomas Jane’s Love Letter To Fans
While Thomas Jane was n’t a immense fan of the comic before makingThe Punisher , he fell in love with the character during shoot . The actor is also the first to admit the picture show ’s many shortcomings , feeling the sappy humor and campiness spite it .
He finally left the role when he felt the subsequence was on the incorrect cart track , but he was later come on by producerAdi Shankarwith the theme of doing an unofficial short film where he repeat the role . Jane usedDirty Laundryas a showcase for his vision of the lineament , and as a love letter to the lover who sustain him .
chemical reaction to the hyper - vehement short has been largely incontrovertible , with the fanbase all but demanding Marvel produce another moving-picture show with Jane playing Castle . Ultimately , the studio apartment opted to reinvent The Punisher again and cast Jon Bernthal as the character inDaredevil .
