PUNISHER POLL: Would You Rather See Thomas Jane Or Ray Stevenson Return To The Role?

PUNISHER POLL: Would You Rather See Thomas Jane Or Ray Stevenson Return To The Role?

With Ray Stevenson recently expressing interest in returning to the role, and Thomas Jane seemingly the top choice among fans, it's time for you CBMers to decide once and for all who you most want to see back as The Punisher...

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By Josh Wilding - 3/10/2011
After the news last year that Marvel Studios had reacquired the rights to The Punisher, and Ray Stevenson's recent revelation that he'd like to return to the role, fans once again are divided over whether he should be given another chance or someone new should be cast, while many also seem to be hopeful that Thomas Jane will return as Frank Castle. Well, let your voice be heard and vote for who you'd most like to see in the role! Here's some info an footage from each film to refresh your memories and help you decide.




The Punisher

Marvel Comics presents a second big-screen version of THE PUNISHER, with this action-packed adaptation from screenwriter-turned-director Jonathan Hensleigh. Frank Castle (Tom Jane) is a retired F.B.I. agent spurred into action after the merciless slaying of his wife, father, and son. Adopting the superhero guise of The Punisher, Castle aims to wreak vengeance for his dead family by tracking down the culprits responsible for their demise. All clues point to Howard Saint (John Travolta), a ruthless businessman and nightclub owner whose son was mistakenly killed by Castle in a botched undercover operation back in his F.B.I. days. As he hunts down Saint, Castle surrounds himself with three fellow societal outcasts to get the job done, namely Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), Bumpo (John Pinette), and Dave (Ben Foster).









Punisher: War Zone

PUNISHER - WAR ZONE is the third screen appearance from Marvel Comics' angel of death, and continues the saga of Frank Castle, a normal New York City citizen turned Mafia-slaying vigilante following the murder of his family. Six years after the tragedy, Frank is still waging war against organized crime in New York. After he ambushes a party for an aging mob boss and turns it into a bloodbath, the battle moves to a recycling warehouse where Castle pushes gangster Billy Russoti (Dominic West) into a swirling vat of broken glass. During his escape, Castle accidentally shoots one of the FBI men who have arrived on the scene. Russoti undergoes plastic surgery, but after seeing his badly disfigured face for the first time, he shoots his surgeon and dubs himself "Jigsaw." While a deeply regretful Castle attempts to make amends with the widow (Julie Benz) of the agent he has slain, Jigsaw rallies an army of criminals in an attempt to take down the seemingly indestructible Punisher.












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Swanky - 3/10/2011, 2:02 PM
Id rather see a fresh face. But I vote JAne
TheDesertGorilla - 3/10/2011, 2:02 PM
Stevenson, easily.
Swanky - 3/10/2011, 2:03 PM
My first "first!!"
Wildaniel - 3/10/2011, 2:04 PM
The movie with Thomas Jane was great, and they should film it in my hometown again, TAMPA FLORIDA!!!
StrangerX - 3/10/2011, 2:07 PM
At least with Stevensons movie they used a known character that fans liked.
TheCraz - 3/10/2011, 2:07 PM
I really liked Tom Jane's Punisher, but he didn't seem like the "real" Punisher. I have not seen War Zone, but from the clips I have seen, Ray Stevenson appears to be more like the Frank Castle we know and love from the comics. I would honestly be OK with either of the actors reprising the role, but if I had to choose I say let Stevenson have another go with a decent script and director. Who would be a good director to get that "Punisher feel"?
continuezero - 3/10/2011, 2:09 PM
Ray looked the part but was a terrible actor...Jane was the better Punisher but that movie is sooo old and is actually very bad.

I saw someone new...Punisher should be made into a TV Series. His storyline is so ongoing and his main villains don't really deserve time on the silver screen. Plus the minimal CG allows for him to translate to TV way better. I have no NEED for a Big Screen Punisher. TV would allow his story to build and then progress. He could be a great example of a TV show that eventually gets a big screen movie after he's been built up. And Yes I am a Punisher fan...I went as him for Haloween 3 years in a Row. People made me retire it.
CaptainOtter - 3/10/2011, 2:09 PM
I wouldn't go with stevenson, purely because he is playing Volstagg. If he nails that role, let him stick with it and have that be his role in the marvel cinematic universe.
JoshWilding - 3/10/2011, 2:09 PM
What teabag said. :)
TheCraz - 3/10/2011, 2:11 PM
@tea
Travolta was TERRIBLE in Jane's Punisher. Or was that just a cardboard cutout....couldn't tell, except the cutout might have had more emotion in his performance....
Stumblin - 3/10/2011, 2:14 PM
Jane all the way, I would say Stephenson, but Warzone was pure shit, acting, dialogue, effects, plot, everything about that movie sucked.

Stephenson with a decent script might be good, but I'd rather have Jane.
TorturedXGenius - 3/10/2011, 2:14 PM
The Punisher from the Spider-Man Animated Series>>>>> Lundren, Stevenson, Jane.

But if i had to choose...Stevenson the way he carried himself was very Punish-y lol and actually looked intimidating. but a new face needs to be Punisher, he is Volstagg unless he COMPLETELY Chameleoned himself in THOR as Volstagg and there was NO WAY we could tell that was him..then sure.
Swanky - 3/10/2011, 2:14 PM
It is hard to pick from two pieces of SH**

Its like which STD would you rather have?
naterator - 3/10/2011, 2:16 PM
honestly???? I enjoyed Jane....Id like to see him in a grittier Punisher movie... and Stevenson put me to sleep at least three times when i watched it in the theatre....and then i never rented it or bought it.
Swanky - 3/10/2011, 2:19 PM
@TEA

That would be my pick also lmao!
CherryBomb - 3/10/2011, 2:21 PM
Thomas Jane ...




enough said.
TheCraz - 3/10/2011, 2:22 PM
haha @ swanky

I like Jane's Punisher, but not as a CBM, kind of a modern western type movie. All it had in common with the comics was a few character names. Frank Castle would not manipulate evidence to trickily get his way, he would just kill the S.O.B responsible for killing his family
George88 - 3/10/2011, 2:27 PM
My first choice would be Gerard Butler but Jon Hamm or Andy Whitfield (Fingers crossed he gets better)
AVEN - 3/10/2011, 2:29 PM
Thomas Jane!
m2prod - 3/10/2011, 2:31 PM
Don't care. Never liked Punisher.
marvel72 - 3/10/2011, 2:32 PM
ray stevenson over thomas jane any day,i find it actually quite hard to watch that thomas jane shit.

at least warzone has the violence turned up to the max.
LEEE777 - 3/10/2011, 2:36 PM
TOM JANE = FTW

WH@REZONE was horrible...

Only an X-MEN FOX fan loves thats sh1tty movie!


BRING BACK TOM JANE!!!!!!!!!!!!



Movie or HBO/SHOWCASE movie!
Ceejay - 3/10/2011, 2:37 PM
Ray Stevenson by a mile, Looked the part, played the part and delivered the goods. Thomas Jane is likable but he looks nothing like the character and he's way too short.

Thomas Jane height = 5'11"
Ray Stevenson height = 6'4"

Jane just doesn't to grim, he's does upset but not grim like Stevenson. Plus Janes Punisher was shot more times than people he shot at! Ray notched up a body count worthy of being called the Punisher!

No more silly villains though, they were the only bad thing in Warzone.
Digitaria51 - 3/10/2011, 2:38 PM
Tom Jane was great in......(fart noise)
Digitaria51 - 3/10/2011, 2:43 PM
@ELgUaSoN don't be greedy? Human Torch=Captain America. Deadpool=Green Lantern. I don't understand this infatuation with Tom Jane. This poll might go 60/40 if not 50/50. Interesting..
RorMachine - 3/10/2011, 2:45 PM
Jane. But it is moot since there is no way he will be back. Stevenson is a (slim) possibility at least.
Luigi - 3/10/2011, 2:46 PM
They both need a reboot bad. By the way, HBO show is a must. I think maybe Jane could be a good producer because it sounds like he knows what kind of direction it should go in.
DoodPool - 3/10/2011, 2:46 PM
Ray Stevenson is a better choice for punisher, not that jane was bad he just had bad direction. But ray is more the part definetley.
Swanky - 3/10/2011, 2:47 PM
PUNISHER IS 0 FOR 3. Lets just not make anymore.
Munch - 3/10/2011, 2:48 PM
Tom Jane deffinetley did a much better acting job an had more then ten lines in punished when Stevenson said like five lines all he did was shoot everyone and Jane brought more emotion and the hate that frank castle had for criminals and onto of everything warzone was the must unrealistic movie although it was still good
AlexDeLarge87 - 3/10/2011, 2:49 PM
Both are great actors hard to choose.
But i say Stevenson cause he is bigger and taller 6´4.
Imagine if Stevenson gains some more muscle in the new film and make up artists would make him look more pale and tired like Dolph was.
New movie needs to be dark in the realistic way like the ´89s movie.

He would look scary as hell!:D


My villain choices:
James Gandolfini as The Kingpin

Josh Brolin as Jigsaw

Dolph Lundgren as The Russian (more realistic and menacing version)

Tiny Lister Jr. as Barracuda

With
Viggo Mortensen as Nicky Cavella

And
Ellen Barkin as Ma Gnucci


Darren Aronofsky or David Fincher would be great director choice.
They would make dark, intense and realistic Punisher movie.
marvel72 - 3/10/2011, 2:51 PM
@ leee777

only an x-men fox fan loves that shitty movie,thats not entirely true is it.

you know my hate for fox cbm's,i just think ray was a better punisher & the violence level was spot on.

i agree the acting was terrible in movie,but still think it was better overall.
ACira - 3/10/2011, 3:03 PM
Janes punisher was like a really camp rambo... haven't seen war zone, but from what I've heard its pretty shit, since they killed off a bunch of main characters and the effects looked crappy in that trailer... and Stevenson is now volstagg... bring in someone new! Jon Hamm for Jigsaw in a reboot!
TheBatman938865 - 3/10/2011, 3:07 PM
the Punisher (2004) movie was made for men! who ever says it sucks ...has gotta be a vagina lol
oreilly - 3/10/2011, 3:13 PM
Thomas Jane for sure. He's a better actor than Stevenson and Jane was really playing Punisher before he really even officially became Punisher. If the writers write him as more of a bad ass in an upcoming movie then Jane can surely play it.
superpooper - 3/10/2011, 3:15 PM
Yeah, Thomas Jane in Tampa Florida. That just SCREAMS Punisher. Get REAL! I'll take Stevenson thank you. His Punisher made Tom Jane look like the [female dog] he is. Tom Jane. Even his last name screams [female dog]. Anyone who thinks the Tom Jane movie was a good version of Punisher needs to have their head examined. I'll settle for re-boot if I have to, but in no way should Tom Jane or anyone as wimpy as him ever be cast as Punisher again.
NorrinRaddical - 3/10/2011, 3:17 PM
i don't know which movie was the bigger let down, or why this franchise seems downright cursed!

i'm very happy to see Stevenson love though. i think he's far and away my favorite actor of the two, however i wish he had an ounce of the deep care and concern that Thomas Jane seems to genuinely have. still, neither of them quite got the right movie made, but it's hardly their fault
Gunslinger - 3/10/2011, 3:23 PM
Tom Jane easily. Sure, the movie wasn't great but it wasn't his fault the script was sh!t and that they changed the character's back-story. He is passionate about the character and I think he'll do a fine job in a Punisher Marvel movie, where they'll treat the character with the respect it deserves. Same can be said about Stevenson, not his fault the movie was crap, but I still prefer Jane.
AverageCitizen99 - 3/10/2011, 3:26 PM
I'd be okay with either one, but if Ray is near unrecognizeable as Volstagg then he should be given another chance. Even though it would be cool to see either back, it's more likely that MARVEL might get someone new.
I like each film for different reasons, but War Zone is a guilty pleasure for me. But the Punisher should be approached like the first Death Wish; gritty and realistic. A TV show would be better though like everyone's been suggesting. The Punisher can make for a great character in a film, but so far no one has managed to nail the character on film. Hopefully MARVEL can do that.
floridatown76 - 3/10/2011, 3:42 PM
Stevenson all the way! The part where he shoots the guy in the face with the shotgun was cold......and that's the Punisher!
vermillion - 3/10/2011, 3:47 PM
Thomas Jane or get a new actor.

Ray Stevenson is already playing Volstagg. Wouldn't that mess up Marvel continuity for you guys? Since Punisher is back with Marvel...

Wouldn't make sense to me anyways.
floridatown76 - 3/10/2011, 3:55 PM
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=tLCDiVNd9fw
ABLEE337 - 3/10/2011, 4:01 PM
This is kinda of like asking if you want Saltines or Oyster crackers with your steaming pile of dog turd? None of the above. Recast.
ComradeGrey - 3/10/2011, 4:18 PM
Stevenson captured the detachment of Frank Castle, the man on a mission vibe so much better than Jane's angsty revenge story. I mean, I liked Jane, but Stevenson was just more interesting.
comicbookjerk - 3/10/2011, 4:24 PM
Punisher war-zone was Like a Made for tv movie it was horrible! I think Thomas Jane should take on the role of Punisher in a HBO tv series or a sequel and Show people how its done...

If I was Jane and I recieved the script for Warzone I would have turned it down to! It was a Pile of crap!

If you liked it then maybe you need to get your head examined!
comicbookjerk - 3/10/2011, 4:41 PM
I can't believe theres not one comment about Dolph Lungren here?




I still believe that when fox gets ahold of it this will be our next punisher movie
thecheetoman2004 - 3/10/2011, 5:05 PM
I think either Thomas Jane or a newcomer because one reason...and one reason only:

Ray Stevenson is already playing a character in Thor. It'd be kinda awkward for him to be playing two characters in the same Marvel Universe (since all of Marvel Studio's films are now in the same universe).
AlexDeLarge87 - 3/10/2011, 5:09 PM
ArrionShadow@ Uuuh?... yes there is. Check my comment.:) Dolph´s Punisher movie was my favorite of those three.
LEEE777 - 3/10/2011, 5:32 PM


Tom Jane is the only PUNISHER!


MARVEL72 @ It was a BIG spit in the face!

PUNISHER is my favorite Marvel character and they killed that movie!

WH@REZONE was beyond terrible...

FRANK - Gets caught my a one and a half Punisher Task Force!

FRANK - Walks around like nothing fully armed!

Batman & Robin NEON sets!

Kill MICROCHIP in his first movie screen outing!

And on, and on, and on...

I'd say it was worst than an X-MEN Fox movie.

(Maybe not Borigins, tie lol)

Its obvious the ppl that made it didn't give two sh1Ts about the Punisher!


What ppl don't understand in TOM JANES one... he wanted to do more than punishing them, he wanted to make them hurt for what they did to his family first, make them suffer!

Pretty much how I suffered from watching WH@REZONE... thank [frick] the limited cinema release men't I missed it on the big screen!


Btw @ MARVEL72, I don't blame RAY.... its all the rest I blame lol! : P

Just got OUTPOST on DVD cheap... awesome movie! :)
Justice - 3/10/2011, 5:42 PM
What are recasting the Punisher again? Look I know "Punisher Max" was the comic book for "Punisher Warzone", but they brought back the image of Frank Castles family dying, and we already saw that!

What if they did the samething again, but with a "deffrent actor", they'ed probably do it? But don't hold me to it.

So instead of talking, maybe, we should through our ideas together for the next "Punisher Movie, or at least hope it's good enough like the comics? And also, hope...Hope...Hope, that they don't Do IT in 3D?

But who know right?
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