There are not a lot of directors in the process of making a studio action film who can say that they don't have at least one bad actor somebody made them cast. I can say that. Still. (Knocking on every piece of wood as I speak). I have the best cast on the planet. The movie Gods were watching over me. Lexi Alexander's official website, 9/18/07 [link] 
Pre-production to me always feels like the ride up a hill on a major rollercoaster, right before the big drop. There are suddenly little airplanes in your stomach and you ask yourself why on earth you agreed to jump on this ride. You look at the people sitting next to you and you wonder how they will react when you puke on them. Will they be mad? Disgusted? Amused? Or will they be classy and supportive and puke with you, merely to demonstrate their allegiance? What is your crew made of?
The truth is, I love the joy of the drop too much to pass on a good rollercoaster, no matter what. There are plenty of good people around me and I feel strongly that this ride in particular will lead to great rewards.
By now, everybody knows that the new PUNISHER is a remarkable
actor named RAY STEVENSON. I can't find enough words of praise
to describe this formidable actor and true Gentleman. Ray's name came up on a list that the folks at Marvel handed me. I, shamefully, was not aware of Ray's work so I rented the first season of ROME. It took me no longer than 5 seconds from the time Ray came onto the screen, to know that he is FRANK CASTLE. I can't remember the last time an actor has impressed me so much with merely an expression. Maybe Meryl Streep? Brando? I know these are grand names, but I'm not exaggerating. Ray Stevenson is a grand actor.
He is also one of the most committed people I have ever met. Currently
he is staying at the home of his trainer and my fight choreographer, Pat Johnson. Johnson – the man, the myth, the legend – is, of course, responsible for the great fight scenes in Hooligans, as well as the boxing in my first short film, Johnny Flynton. His resume goes back 35 years and before then, he was the captain of the Chuck Norris fighting team and an undefeated World Karate champion. Currently Mr. Johnson is getting Ray in warrior shape and I think they spend something crazy, like five or six hours a day, just sweating. Thank God, Ray is extremely coordinated so he already looks like he was a competitive fighter himself.
For the past few weekends, Ray has also had major Military training with a bunch of badass Marines from a company called Gunmetal. I love Marines. In the first year I moved out to the US, I was asked to teach a little hand-to-hand combat seminar to a group of Marines at Camp Pendleton. That was before they had their own, now very famous, Martial Arts program. I quickly understood why the Germans called Marines "Teufelshunde." They have trained and continue to train Ray very well.
Matt Sigloch and Jon Barton, the guys who own GUNMETAL, take great pride in their work. They are especially invested in making Frank Castle as authentic as possible, since historically, Castle was a Force Recon Marine. - Mania Movies, 8/23/07 [link]
Although i am still very much in the embrionic stages of developing and discovering FRANK CASTLE's character; what i can say about my approach so far is that I dont wish for anyone to walk out of the theatre wanting to 'be' FRANK CASTLE - Let me explain, I would be mortified if, for any reason, some kid at high school wanted to reach out and right the wrongs of bullying or rejection or isolation by deciding to "tool up" and take out the bad guys ! It is my full intention to have FRANK in such a dark place and do such violence on those beyond redemption that you should feel glad that there is someone who lives in the dark so we may live in the light. (and you cant wait to see what hell he brings to those targeted by him) My training program is the most comprehensive i have ever undertaken and hopefully we will bring all his skills to bear - and then some! Sorry it is a bit sketchy at this stage but we are driving forward and will stay true to the essence of THE PUNISHER! - Ray Stevenson quoted on SuperHeroHype.com, 8/20/07 [link]
"Variety is reporting that Lionsgate has moved forward with the sequel to the 2004 version of The Punisher, which started Thomas Jane, without Jane himself who pulled out due to conflicts over the script. The Punisher 2 will now star Ray Stevenson best known for his role on the HBO series "Rome", production for this new feature will begin in October." - Superhero Times, 8/6/07 [link]
It was announced yesterday over at AICN that Thomas Jame will not be returning for Lionsgate's The Punisher 2 ... John Dahl is in major talks to helm the sequel to the 2004 pic, which was one of Artisan's last features before being acquired by Lionsgate. In addition, the script in place now does in fact feature Jigsaw as the killer. - Freeze Dried Movies, 5/16/2007 [link]
