Gamertell

The first teaser trailer for Marvel’s next film, Punisher: War Zone, was released last week.

From the looks of this first glimpse at the third Punisher film,  due to hit theaters December 2, 2008, this Punisher just might be the film adaption that fans have been hoping to see.

Right from the start, the teaser trailer (see below) shows that War Zone (titled from the classic Punisher: War Zone comics) is darker, meaner and filled with more action then probably the last two films had together.

The Punisher films have gone through a lot of ups and downs. The 1989 Punisher film starring Dolph Lundgren and Louis Gossett Jr. failed to impress most fans upon its release, although it did find a second life as a cult status (but that’s still not saying much).

In 2004 we saw the second major motion picture release of the Punisher, which stared Tomas Jane and John Travolta. This Punisher seemed to have the star power behind it to make the film a hit. While it didn’t necessarily bomb in the theaters, most fans felt that the movie failed to really capture the spirit of the comic. Being set in Florida instead of the mean streets of New York City obviously didn’t help either.

After Tomas Jane backed out from doing Punisher 2, Marvel, much like they decided with the Hulk, would give the Punisher another restart (so none of the films are pre/sequels to the others). This time, the role of the Punisher will be played by Ray Stevenson, mostly known for his staring role in HBO’s Emmy winning series Rome.

While Ray Stevenson might not be a well-known actor, he certainly seems to fit the role better than his previous two counterparts. And thankfully, the iconic white skull is present in the latest adaption.

Site [Punisher: War Zone] Site [Marvel Comics]