Dolph Lundgren swung and he missed. Tom Jane, despite a solid performance, couldn't save a mediocre movie. Not even "Rome" brute Ray Stevenson could do the man justice. But can a fourth actor finally avenge the live-action Frank Castle?
Looks like we're about to find out, because Marvel is once again putting live-action "Punisher" plans into motion. Except this time, the flesh-and-blood spirit of vengeance is setting his sights on the small screen instead of the big one: Deadline reports that Fox has put a "Punisher" television series into development, with former "Criminal Minds" showrunner Ed Bernero executive producing.
It's too early to tell if this "Punisher" will succeed where other versions have failed, but based on Deadline's description of the premise, I'm not feeling optimistic. The TV series, which has a put pilot commitment, will reportedly follow Frank Castle as "a rising star detective with the New York Police Department who moonlights as the vigilante Punisher, seeking justice for those the system has failed."
Frank Castle, a rising star? So he hasn't been kicking ass and taking names for years already? And he's still on the police force? That sounds like a guy who has it together — does that mean his wife and kids are still alive? Or, at least, weren't horribly murdered in front of his eyes? Are we really going to get a fresh-faced Frank who works for the law by day and works against it at night?
Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but if this is the show we're heading towards, well... Really?
I'm completely on board for a "Punisher" series, but only if it's being done right. Hire someone with some weight and experience to play Frank — I hear former "SVU" star Chris Meloni is available these days, or maybe Tom Jane can even take another crack if his "Hung" schedule allows — get Garth Ennis on the team as a writer and consultant, and aim for a tone that's in line with early days "24." That's a network "Punisher" show I'd watch, even if the ideal version is on cable. None of this "The New Adventures of Frank Castle" nonsense, please.
Tell us what you think of the new "Punisher" TV series in the comments section and on Twitter!
