Cast & Crew Talk “Punisher: War Zone”

I attended a press conference about Punisher: War Zone for CBR. Here’s a clip:

Alexander was not familiar with the Marvel comic books prior to seeing an earlier draft of the script, still called “Punisher 2” at the time. “I thought, ‘Well, this is very interesting, I’d like to look into the comic books,’” she recalled. Eventually, when Alexander accepted the job, she was sent two boxes filled with Punisher comics and found in the work of Garth Ennis an approach and tone that appealed to her. “I read them over the weekend and I thought, ‘Why didn’t I read comic books before?’” Alexander also read fan reaction to the previous film adaptations. “I think the only person who learned more about the Punisher was Ray Stevenson.”

For Stevenson, the character “chose a path of no redemption.” Finding the soul of The Punisher in the work of Ennis, which he called “phenomenal,” Stevenson said those comics made him want to play the part. “There’s something tragic and mythical [about it],” he said, adding that he liked the character’s commitment, which has an honesty to it. “He’s honest enough to say he’s not there to protect the innocent.” Stevenson said an actor likes to find “pure” characters like Frank Castle.

More at CBR.