New Interview: Kurt Sutter on re-writing Punisher: War Zone

[Advanced Dark]

The guy just tells it like it is. Love it.

http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/5432/tcid/1

What can you tell me about The Punisher? Is a straight continuation or is it a reboot like the new Hulk film?

Again, a little of both. It’s a reboot without discounting the events of the first Punisher. There are a lot of great blog sites that do a much better job at describing the story.

What is the biggest difference between this film and the last one? Except of course that there is a new leading man.

I’ll take this opportunity to say that I felt like Nick Santora and myself, who’s names were on the second big draft, got caught in the crossfire when Tom Jane was growing dissatisfied with the turn Punisher was taking. Tom lashed out at the script using it as his scapegoat for exiting the project. I’m not privy to the details, but I’d bet it had more to do with money than words. I like Tom Jane, I’ve had lunch with him, think he’s a decent guy. But I always felt that if Marvel really wanted to re-invent the franchise, you’d have to re-invent the Punisher. It would be like hiring Eric Bana or Bill Bixby for the Hulk reboot. Ray Stevenson is a terrific choice as Frank Castle. He’ll bring a depth and irony to the role that has not yet been explored by any other actor. I also think Lexi Alexander will shoot the hell out of it. From what I’ve been told, much of my draft is still intact and Halloway and Marcum’s rewrite is great. They have become Marvel’s go-to guys.

What will the tone of the film be like?

Tone? Ummmm, dark and violent.

 

[Mauser9910]

Nice. Bravo Margos !

 

[Advanced Dark]

It makes sense. Marvel wanted to reinvent the Punisher film after the 1st one and to hire Jane back wouldn't make sense. It was played out for us like the script was bad but it's clearly more of creative differences.

 

[Rampage]

If Hensleigh wrote the first draft then I do believe it was bad, but have some faith that all of the re-writes and Marcum and Holloway's final touches have made it worthy.

 

[Sebastos]

Very nice.

 

[Punisher 04]

Kudos A.D. but who's playing Jigsaw?

 

[Advanced Dark]

Kan't say. I guess we'll have to wait and see. It's gonna be interesting. I wish I knew.

 

[Neo_aa]

Hahaha... not so much "telling it like it is" as "rampant speculation." I'll never back Jane again for Punisher but I don't feel a lot of trust in Sutter's "explanation" either.

 

[cthulhu]

I have every faith that this new film will be much better than the 04 version. Jane gave a good performance but the film wasn't dark enougth. His punisher was also a little goofy. Im also disappointed that Jane felt he had to walk away but I dont think his heat was truely in it, I read some of his interviews before the release of the 04 film and he wasn't exactly talking it up. I think Ray Stevenson will make the role his own. Looking foward to a real punisher film...

 

[Advanced Dark]

Kurt commenting on his comments:

MORE CASTLE DUST


I continue to unintentionally kick up dust with my responses to Punisher 2 questions. In an online interview with Collider, I was defending my script and making an educated guess as to why Tom Jane backed out of the project. I'm not saying he wasn't dissatisfied with the scripts, obviously he was. However, my experience is that more often than not, money is always the deal-breaker. That's the comment I made in the interview linked below. The bloggers are raining hate. Ah, the safety of cyber-anonymity and the blog-o-sphere, where the meek and geek can be gods of thunder.

I support this film until I have a reason not too. Everything I'm hearing gives me NO reason to not be optimisitc. I know it's scary for some die hard Punisher or Tom Jane fans because of the unknown. As far as the haters...F'em. Get a life. It's ok to have a negative opinion but some people are going too far with the hatred...and not only about this film. It's a movie guys not the Holy Grail.

 

[ROBOCOP CPU001]

We will never know the actual reason why Tom left the project, he will never admit it was money.

 

[ElToro]

Kurt commenting on his comments:



I support this film until I have a reason not too. Everything I'm hearing gives me NO reason to not be optimisitc. I know it's scary for some die hard Punisher or Tom Jane fans because of the unknown. As far as the haters...F'em. Get a life. It's ok to have a negative opinion but some people are going too far with the hatred...and not only about this film. It's a movie guys not the Holy Grail.

I Agree.All we need is a good movie,yes good actors.But i know Ray will be great as Frank Castle.Tom Jane is a good actor, i thought he was going to do the next one,but quit.I hope the next movie comes out realy well.

 

[Balthus Dire]

I have every faith that this new film will be much better than the 04 version. Jane gave a good performance but the film wasn't dark enougth. His punisher was also a little goofy. Im also disappointed that Jane felt he had to walk away but I dont think his heat was truely in it, I read some of his interviews before the release of the 04 film and he wasn't exactly talking it up. I think Ray Stevenson will make the role his own. Looking foward to a real punisher film...

??

Tom Jane was pretty much the only person talking about trying to get P2 made for the last few years. We didn't hear anything from anyone but Jane himself, really.

 

[Neo_aa]

I continue to unintentionally kick up dust with my responses to Punisher 2 questions. In an online interview with Collider, I was defending my script and making an educated guess as to why Tom Jane backed out of the project. I'm not saying he wasn't dissatisfied with the scripts, obviously he was. However, my experience is that more often than not, money is always the deal-breaker. That's the comment I made in the interview linked below. The bloggers are raining hate. Ah, the safety of cyber-anonymity and the blog-o-sphere, where the meek and geek can be gods of thunder.

Ah, the anonymity bash... love it... and "raining hate?" Maybe I'm not as up on the internets as Mr. Sutter, but what blogger(s) would that be a reference to? Other than the interview and the discussion here, I haven't heard anything about it. I'm going to bet most people would be willing to give Sutter their address if he really needs to know who they are so he can send them a letter or something.

He's a smart guy (I really mean that, he has earned everything he has and more power to him) but he is playing in the mud pit when he doesn't have to.

 

[Browne]

As the writer who conducted the interview with Kurt Sutter I have to defend his comments. He obviously has faith in this project and wants the film to work.
Nobody wants a film to fail and nobody goes into a film thinking that it will be bad.
Kurt was asked a simple question and he gave a simple and honest answer, not one that was fed through the studio PR machine. It was a candid response and one that we should respect from a straight shooting writer.
The first Punisher film had a few problems (I enjoyed it) and it was plain to see that Thomas Jane pushed for this film to go into production. However a man can change his mind for whatever reason, money could be a factor, maybe it was even personal taste. He simply could have got a better offer.
Kurt Sutter, and writers of films in general, often run the risk of being hated by fans, but let's be honest, the suits often get in the way. Kurt even stated as much in the interview (if you bother to read the entire piece).

Give the man a break and at least wait to see what the completed product is. Don't slam a film before it's made or released, that's the worst and laziest type of criticism. It could be jealously on your behalf (I'm not going to judge) but at least Mr Sutter is standing up for his art and being creative. I, for one, salute his honesty and hope that the finished film meets his vision.

 

[Neo_aa]

This is a useless debate, isn't it?

Did Sutter give Thomas Jane a break? No, don't get me wrong, I'm one of Jane's biggest critics since he ditched the franchise but I'm not going to just "speculate" him to hell. I could say he quit the movie because Lionsgate wanted him to lay off the pot (considering TJ's personality, it's a much more plausible reason than "money") but saying it doesn't make it true. Especially if I had "had lunch" with him, that would be some cold ****.

I'm excited about this movie and have plenty of reasons to think it will be head and shoulders above the '04 film, INCLUDING the writers that are on the project (Sutter too.)

not one that was fed through the studio PR machine.

Hahaha... keep fighting the Combine there, Chief Bromden.... stay cagey.

 

[Advanced Dark]

As the writer who conducted the interview with Kurt Sutter I have to defend his comments. He obviously has faith in this project and wants the film to work.
Nobody wants a film to fail and nobody goes into a film thinking that it will be bad.
Kurt was asked a simple question and he gave a simple and honest answer, not one that was fed through the studio PR machine. It was a candid response and one that we should respect from a straight shooting writer.
The first Punisher film had a few problems (I enjoyed it) and it was plain to see that Thomas Jane pushed for this film to go into production. However a man can change his mind for whatever reason, money could be a factor, maybe it was even personal taste. He simply could have got a better offer.
Kurt Sutter, and writers of films in general, often run the risk of being hated by fans, but let's be honest, the suits often get in the way. Kurt even stated as much in the interview (if you bother to read the entire piece).

Give the man a break and at least wait to see what the completed product is. Don't slam a film before it's made or released, that's the worst and laziest type of criticism. It could be jealously on your behalf (I'm not going to judge) but at least Mr Sutter is standing up for his art and being creative. I, for one, salute his honesty and hope that the finished film meets his vision.

Agreed 100%. Kurt didn't just come out of nowhere saying the Punisher film would do good if all we had was a decent actor. While Jane would consistently get up and trash the script without thinking of the people who worked on it nor did he give an explanation on why he was trashing it. It's obvious to me that the script was not perfect but there was time to work on it (which they did) but it was more of an issue of the direction LGF and Marvel wanted to take the Punisher was not in line with Janes...and LGF didn't care. If the first film made 100 million and Jane was a proven box office star that's another thing. He's not. Great actor but not a draw.

 

[Browne]

I'm not speculating on Jane's departure, I'm just stating that there could be a multitude of reasons why the man left the project.

However, I am defending Sutter's comments, he can have an opinion and considering that he was answering my questions I feel that he was just being honest with his comments.

Also, I am a fan of Thomas Jane and his work, so I feel that we can't slam him for his opinions. Maybe he didn't like the script- that is his opinion, there are a lot of things that I read that I don't like, but I have an opinion. If Jane felt that the film wasn't for him, then that's ok. We all make choices on a daily basis, it's just that there aren't message boards dedicated to our decisions.

Browne

 

[Browne]

I'm not speculating on Jane's departure, I'm just stating that there could be a multitude of reasons why the man left the project.

However, I am defending Sutter's comments, he can have an opinion and considering that he was answering my questions I feel that he was just being honest with his comments.

Also, I am a fan of Thomas Jane and his work, so I feel that we can't slam him for his opinions. Maybe he didn't like the script- that is his opinion, there are a lot of things that I read that I don't like, but I have an opinion. If Jane felt that the film wasn't for him, then that's ok. We all make choices on a daily basis, it's just that there aren't message boards dedicated to our decisions.

Browne

 

[FireandIce213]

This is a useless debate, isn't it?

Did Sutter give Thomas Jane a break? No, don't get me wrong, I'm one of Jane's biggest critics since he ditched the franchise but I'm not going to just "speculate" him to hell. I could say he quit the movie because Lionsgate wanted him to lay off the pot (considering TJ's personality, it's a much more plausible reason than "money") but saying it doesn't make it true. Especially if I had "had lunch" with him, that would be some cold ****.

I'm excited about this movie and have plenty of reasons to think it will be head and shoulders above the '04 film, INCLUDING the writers that are on the project (Sutter too.)


Hahaha... keep fighting the Combine there, Chief Bromden.... stay cagey.

I know its a bit off topic, but does Jane smoke pot?? Anyway I like what im hearing about the new movie and im glad ray stevenson is on board to star even though im gonna miss Tom Jane Im more than willing to give this next film a chance.

 

[Neo_aa]

I'm not speculating on Jane's departure, I'm just stating that there could be a multitude of reasons why the man left the project.

However, I am defending Sutter's comments, he can have an opinion and considering that he was answering my questions I feel that he was just being honest with his comments.

Also, I am a fan of Thomas Jane and his work, so I feel that we can't slam him for his opinions. Maybe he didn't like the script- that is his opinion, there are a lot of things that I read that I don't like, but I have an opinion. If Jane felt that the film wasn't for him, then that's ok. We all make choices on a daily basis, it's just that there aren't message boards dedicated to our decisions.

Browne

Noted and understood... even though I don't place faith in Jane anymore (Punisher fans fell hard when he left the project) I still believe him that it was due to creative differences. Actors can be honest about not making the money they want (Ray Liotta has been point-blank a few times about acting for the paycheck.) Jane never did anything to demonstrate that he's a liar and I won't call him one. I can't imagine why it entered in to Sutter's head to toss the word money in there... unless he knows something we don't know.

I never believed that his script was bad when it got put down by Latino Review... at least, not until he referred to it as "half a handjob" in "a one ****e town" (though I do understand his complaint about being stuck between the studio and Jane when all he wanted to do was write the damn thing his way.) I just want to get back to the fun of it, not the "this was TJ's fault" part of it.

 

[antmanx68]

I bet Jane walked because he didnt like the script, which is fine, I dont really share his taste... afterall, he probably thought he was a great choice for The Punisher and that 04Punisher was great.

 

[citizenpain]

I know its a bit off topic, but does Jane smoke pot?? Anyway I like what im hearing about the new movie and im glad ray stevenson is on board to star even though im gonna miss Tom Jane Im more than willing to give this next film a chance.

yes, yes he does.

i was bummed at first about jane leaving as well but stevenson is an excellent replacement and chances are that with him and lexi we'll finally get the dark, gritty, and violent punisher film we want.