by Michael Allen

Created on: September 26, 2008

Mob boss Billy Russoti is horribly disfigured by vigilante-hero Frank Castle and Russoti sets his sights on revenge. With a new nickname Russoti tracks down the Punisher as the Jigsaw with an army of criminals in hot pursuit. As the FBI stands bye mired in red tape the Punisher takes on Jigsaw and his thugs vigilante style (Coming).

"Punisher: War Zone," is set to hit theatres December 5, 2008 with Ray Stevenson stepping into the role of Frank Castle. Lexi Alexander, a relative unknown will sit in the director's chair in this stand alone picture of the Punisher franchise. New characters in the film include; Microchip (Wayne Knight), and Looney Bin Jim (Doug Hutchison). Art Marcum from "Iron Man," fame is the lead writer with Nick Santora a writer from the television series "Prison Break" as the second.

There is a swirl of controversy surrounding this film over the possible PG-13 rating. There is a rumour that Lionsgate executives are pushing for a PG-13 despite the script and movie having an R rating flair. This has led Lexi Alexander the director to walk away from any future promotion of the film. As well, the star of the first "Punisher" film Tom Jane is no longer with the series due to conflicts over the direction of the Punisher franchise. Tom Jane is one of the greatest promoters for the Punisher series and his arguments for a sequel is the reason "Punisher: War Zone," is soon to hit theatres (MovieBlog).

New management at Lionsgate films, is toning down movies like "Midnight Meat Train," and "Punisher: War Zone," which have a hard R. The new Lionsgate management is attempting to market for a wider audience and stories like "Midnight Meat Train," are being sent straight to video stores (Reel). There was a real chance that "Punisher: War Zone," would not even be seeing theatres but now it will be given a wide release this December.

If "Punisher: War Zone," receives a PG-13 due to editing then some of the die-hard fans are sure to walk away. If the film remains closer to Lexi Alexander's original vision then there is a future for the Punisher franchise. Lexi sums up her vision nicely, "I love violent movies," she says. "And Lionsgate is a great studio to make a violent film (Ugo)."

Whether Lionsgate continues to be a studio known for its violent action movies remains uncertain.

Sources:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809 961146/video/9047826

"Punisher War Zone Rumors De-Constructed." ReelComix.com. 23 Aug.. 24 Sep. 2008 http://www.reelcomix.com/835-Punisher-War-Zone-Rumor s-DeConstructed.html.

"Why Punisher: War Zone is Doomed." TheMovieBlog.com. 30 July 2008. 24 Sep. 2008 http://www.themovieblog.com/2008/07/why-punisher-war -zone-is-doomed

"Punisher: War Zone." ComingSoon.net. 24 Sep. 2008 http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=11932
Know, Dr. "Punisher: War Zone - First Image and News!." Ugo MovieBlog. 6 Dec. 2007. 24 Sep. 2008 http://movieblog.ugo.com/index.php/movieblog/more/pu nisher_war_zone_news/

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