This Day in Horror History: Tom Jane’s PUNISHER Was Unleashed
16 years ago on this day in horror history, Lionsgate unleashed director Jonathan Hensleigh’s The Punisher into theaters starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta. While the film is nothing to write home about, I f*cking LOVE Tom Jane as Frank Castle. Here’s hoping he gets a sequel!
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
TRIVIA:
Thomas Jane was director Jonathan Hensleigh and producer Avi Arad’s first choice to play The Punisher from the very beginning. Jane initially turned down the role twice, as he didn’t see himself as a superhero actor. He only became interested in the character after seeing Timothy Bradstreet’s artwork. With the supervision of a trainer, Jane worked out extensively or nearly 7 months with Navy SEALs and gained more than 20 pounds of muscle in doing so with two hours of weight lifting and cardio, sometimes twice a day and a rigorous diet of health shakes. Jane also trained with multiple firearms and weaponry.
The Punisher/ Russian fight scene was described on the set as the “Horrific Clown Show.” It took 2 days to film. While filming, Thomas Jane accidentally stabbed Kevin Nash. The scene in which hot oil is tossed on to The Russian was scaled back due to excessive violence. Originally, blood was supposed to pour from The Russian’s eyes, but it was deemed “too much” by the MPAA.
The film sold nearly 2 million copies in its first five days on DVD.
Jonathan Hensleigh was dismayed before filming began when he learned that he wasn’t going to be given a sufficient budget for a top-flight action movie. He felt he needed $64 million but was only given $15 million instead, and only 52 days to shoot the picture. Hensleigh had to rewrite a lot of his original script to accommodate this reduction in budget and shooting schedule.
The original film, with no edits, clocked in at 2 hours and 56 minutes. A close-up shot of a bodyguard getting hit in the head with a paper cutter was cut for being “too real”.
SEQUEL:
A sequel was planned but couldn’t get off the ground. Director Jonathan Hensleigh, star Thomas Jane, and screenwriters could not agree. Various screenwriters came on board and departed the project. Eventually, Hensleigh left. Finally, Thomas Jane left after the search for a new director that agreed with his vision of the sequel, failed. The project was then scrapped. One of the screenplays would eventually be reworked into Punisher War Zone. (Source)
DETAILS:
The film sports a 29% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: A good cast fails to elevate this overly violent and by-the-numbers revenge flick.
It’s rated R for pervasive brutal violence, language and brief nudity.
Based on the comic book series, it follows FBI agent Frank Castle (Jane) as he transforms into the vengeful Punisher after criminals murder his family, including his wife and son. Castle is gravely injured in the attack and believed to be dead by Howard Saint (Travolta), the crime lord who ordered the hit. Following his recovery, Castle becomes a heavily armed vigilante who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on Saint and dismantle his underworld empire.
It stars Thomas Jane as Frank Castle with John Travolta as Howard Saint, Will Patton as Quentin Glass, Rebecca Romijn as Joan, Ben Foster as Spacker Dave, Samantha Mathis as Maria Castle, Laura Harring as Livia Saint, Kevin Nash as The Russian, and Roy Scheider as Frank Castle Sr.
DIRTY LAUNDRY:
Tom Jane returned as Frank Castle in the 2012 short film The Punisher: Dirty Laundry. Co-starring Ron Perlman, the short was directed by Phil Joanou and produced by Adi Shankar. It sees Castle punishing a gang that assaulted a group of prostitutes. Check it out below.
What do you think of Jonathan Hensleigh’s The Punisher with Tom Jane? Make sure to hit us up and let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
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