I know, I know. A good amount of people could care less about YET ANOTHER punisher film. But, if done right, could be epic. First, it should be a proper mix of the 2004 version and the 2008 version. Bloody and yet with soul.
First, The Punisher. Ray Stevenson as Frank/Punisher. He got it down pat. The look, the grittiness, and he can actually act.
Second choice for Frank, KARL URBAN. He was the definitive Judge Dredd in last year's "Dredd", a great underrated film. Also, Eomer in the original "Lord of the Rings Trilogy". He has enough likeability and is, in my opinion, a badass.
Martin Soap, the underrated Commissioner Gordon to Frank Castle needs goofiness as well as seriousness. I found nothing wrong with Dash Mihok, he played it to perfection, so he should return.
Barracuda. Someone who is muscular, has a low voice, and can be tenacious. Absolute foil to Frank and tries to stop him at every turn. I say Idris Elba for pick #1. He was Heimdall in "Thor" and that guy Moreau from "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance".
Kingpin/Wilson Fisk. The Kingpin of Crime needs to be huge and menacing; if not intimidating. Looking back on the '90s cartoons, I would say... either Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone from "Batman Begins"),
Or Ray Wise.
He played the Devil on "Reaper", and was the vice-president under President Logan on "24". I liked his acting style since everyone thought he would be a bad guy, but he was actually trying to help Jack Bauer.
Kingpin throughout would be a distorted voice on the phone talking to Barracuda giving orders, but we would finally see him during an end-credits scene. Also, there would be clues during the film that would point to this as well.
Since I would envision this as part of the MCU, Nick Fury and Maria Hill would be in the movie, with Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders portraying them respectfully. (This would be an end-credits scene).
Microchip/Linus Lieberman. I liked Wayne Knight's portrayal in "War Zone", so he's first pick.
Second pick: Patton Oswalt. You know him as Spence from "King of Queens" and Constable Bob Sweeney on "Justified". He is another person who is normally comedic, but does GREAT when serious (like Bill Murray, "Lost in Translation").
THE PLOT: It would be another origin story (*has a feeling some of you are booing and hissing, but hear me out*) It would be faithful to the comic origin. Taking place in NYC, Frank Castle takes his family out to a picnic in Central Park. Frank forgets the drinks in the trunk, while his whole world crumbles before him. His wife and kids witness a mob murder and are executed by Barracuda and his henchmen. Frank goes back to see the dead bodies of his family, swearing vengeance on those involved.
THE DIRECTOR: I thought of three people who could do this right and realistically.
1. Christopher Nolan (Batman Trilogy w/ Christian Bale)
2. David Croenberg (History of Violence)
3. Sam Mendes (Skyfall, Road to Perdition)
Thank you for your time. Please let me know what you think of my revisions below. When I'm able my next post will be a Daredevil reboot fancast. Stay tuned!!!