Fox Buys ‘The Punisher’ Series Adaptation From Ed Bernero & Marvel With Put Pilot

COMMENTS (51)

• I hope they will include the following allies in this Punisher television series:

  G. W. Bridge, Stuart Clarke, Lynn Michaels, Microchip, Henry Russo, Martin Soap, Joan, Mr. Bumpo, Spacker Dave, Lt. Molly Von Richtofen, Yorkie Mitchell, Jen Cooke, Kathryn O’Brien, Nick Fury, Steve Goodwin

  I look forward to seeing the following villains in this Punisher television series:

  Barracuda, Bushwacker, Hitman, Jigsaw, Ma Gnucci, The Russian, The Rev, Jigsaw, The Kingpin, The Holy, Elite, Mr. Payback, Nicky Cavella, Finn Cooley, Maginty, William Rawlins, Tony Pizzo, Cristu Bulat, Tiberiu Bulat, Robert Hellsgaard

  Comment by Elin Jensen — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 12:36am PDT  Reply to this post

• Based on the picture, Gordon Ramsey for THE PUNISHER!

  Comment by aftb — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 1:18am PDT  Reply to this post

• No comments yet about how ABC Studios would have two crime-procedurals with a main character named Castle?
  Even if it’s on Fox, that is slightly amusing.

  No one wants to see The Punisher with a badge. That’s why he’s a vigilante, he don’t need no stickin badges…

  Comment by Brandon — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 5:05am PDT  Reply to this post

• I absolutely HATE to be negative here because I’m one of those fan who has been reading Punisher comics loyally since 1988 and sincerely want a loyal live action adaptation of the character but between the writers, FOX and Marvel, the character will be fucked again in another shit live adaptation.

  Punisher MAX 1-12 recreated for the first season would be a perfect and would be great for the general public and Marvel fans.
  Minor changes would likely be required and would work out fine such as things that were done to The Walking Dead.

  There’s only a few things you really need to keep the Punisher character true.
  [War Vet + Family Killed in Central Park + Skull]

  It’s amazing how they’ve already fucked up one of the three and development has barely started.

  Marvel needs to stop licensing the character out and just do 1 good movie under their own development (Like they did for Iron Man, recent Hulk, Thor, Cap, Avengers) instead of licensing it out to others (Lions Gate Films, FOX)

  Good luck. I’ll be watching, but likely in disgust.

  -FrankCastleAZ

  Comment by FrankCastleAZ — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 6:06am PDT  Reply to this post

• The Punisher is a guy who uses his military training and expertise to ruthlessly wipe out and waste those he deems criminal. He doesn’t play fair, he doesn’t care, he is a professional. He is so good that he gave superheroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil fits. I like the TV series idea but agree that this character has never been given his due by the various scripts and movies. This one looks more of the same.

  Comment by HGWells1984 — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 9:03am PDT  Reply to this post

• I get why they’re making him a cop, it wouldn’t have been my first choice but for tv I get it.

  The Punisher is PERFECT for tv! I’m surprised it took this long to do it! I hope they embrace the look of the comic and give him the full on SKULL look and not some weak a&& faded skull t-shirt.

  Marvel should take Daredevil to the small screen too while they’re at it. He’s an easier translation than The Hulk.

  Comment by JJ — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 9:10am PDT  Reply to this post

• This could be the perfect vehicle for FOX considering if they keep their rogue’s gallery limited to Evil Irish Guy O’ Reilly, KKK White Sheet Hannity, and Murderous Manface Gretchen.

  They could even perhaps coax Rush Limbaugh to guest star as the Kingpin every so often in a running arc as Frank Castle infiltrates his smuggling of oxycotin operation via the rectums of Dominican Republic rentboys.

  I’d tune in for that.

  ~

  Coat

  Comment by Cary Coatney — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 9:56am PDT  Reply to this post

• Patton Oswalt as Microchip!!

  Comment by Bobby P — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 11:41am PDT  Reply to this post

• They’re trying to shoehorn the Punisher into the same violent antihero-drama formula that has worked successfully for a lot of other cable shows. Series like Breaking Bad, the Shield, the Sopranos and Dexter are appealing to a wide audience because of the duality of the protagonists and the constant tension caused by their separate lives. Unfortunately, the Punisher is one of the few Marvel characters that wouldn’t work in this formula because his whole character revolves on the fact that he lost everything of meaning to him and he commits every last minute of the day to killing as many criminals as possible. The fact that he’s completely disconnected from everything is what makes him unique (and somewhat two dimensional). Instead of changing his core characteristics, I think the best approach to a Punisher show would be to make it like No Country for Old Men, where Frank is simply a cold, unstoppable killing force like the Anton Chigurh character and the episodes follow the perspectives of both the people he’s hunting down and the cops trying to stop him.

  Comment by Andrew — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 12:22pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Disagree. The fact that Castle’s a homicide detective in the TV version shouldn’t necessarily change his ruthless, single-minded dedication to slaughtering criminals. The producers can (and should) STILL show him doing that.

    Frank Castle can be a man who’s out for revenge — and posing as a dedicated civil servant.

    Here’s how I see it going to go down:

    Castle will be using his badge and access to police information in order to help him with his private manhunts (duh).

    And of course, once the cops get wind of the ruthless vigilante who is running around New York, will put together a task force to stop him, a task force led by (or at least including)…

    Frank Castle. (duh)

    This is the only way of telling this story effectively and NOT doing it this way would be narratively irresponsible.

    In fact it wouldn’t surprise me if they ended the pilot on this very note: with Castle being assigned to the “Punisher Task Force.” Cut to black.

    The question is, is Fox willing to go “all in” in order to do this series justice? Can the GLEE network have Castle being 1) as violent as he needs to be, and 2) as unpentant as he needs to be, on a weekly, non-cable network series?

    I have my doubts. And so, I bet, does Ed Bernero.

    Comment by Classic Liberal — Friday October 21, 2011 @ 4:12pm PDT  Reply to this post

• “Frank Castle: He doesn’t have supernatural powers. He’s a Desert Storm combat veteran with extensive training and skills”…

  Loved the movie filmed in Tampa, Fl. co-starring John Travolta. Have it.

  Comment by SinCityFinancier — Saturday October 22, 2011 @ 8:36pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Frank is a NAM vet. OMG!!!!

    Comment by Manny — Wednesday October 26, 2011 @ 12:56pm PDT  Reply to this post

• This show will FAIL!!!!! OMG. Has no one ever picked up a Punisher comic? What’s with this making him an ex-cop/FBI agent in every movie they do? Now a detective punishing criminals a-la Dexter? Holy shit! I’m all but done with Marvel/Disney if they go through with this. Why can’t you just make a sequel with Ray Stevenson? Am I the only one that liked Punisher War Zone? I think they got it right with that movie. Wow! Just give me a movie/TV deal Marvel. I’ll write such a bad-ass script and honor The Punisher. I’ll channel the spirits of Garth Ennis, Gerry Conway, Mike Baron, & Steven Grant. I’d make a Punisher film that would make fanboys like me wet themselves. Hell Yeah!!

  Comment by Manny — Wednesday October 26, 2011 @ 12:56pm PDT  Reply to this post

• This might have the potential to be the next “24″ if its done properly. Depends on the cast and the marketing. I for one am looking forward to see who they cast in the role of Castle.

  Comment by Chris — Thursday November 17, 2011 @ 10:19pm PST  Reply to this post