On October 18, Lionsgate will release the home video formats 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital Steelbook for the film Punisher: War Zone. The collection includes bonus materials that go into the development of the cinematic adaptation of Marvel’s deadliest antihero, including information on the actor’s training, the weaponry used, and an overall commentary on the film’s graphic violence. In spite of the fact that Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle/The Punisher in Daredevil and The Punisher has made him more well-known to Marvel fans, Punisher: War Zone was published years before either of those shows.
The former special forces soldier turned vigilante Castle (Ray Stevenson) is engaged in a dual conflict in War Zone. In one, he must team up with some of the most notorious names in the underworld criminal underworld to bring down a maimed mafia leader out for revenge, while in the other, he is being hunted by an FBI anti-vigilante task force that wants to “punish” him for killing one of their own. In the 1970s, Frank Castle first appeared in Marvel comics as a villain whose job was to kill The Amazing Spider-Man. The character’s history has been expanded since then to make him a war veteran who lost his family to violence and is now focused on exacting retribution by any means possible, and he has since been shown as both a villain and an antihero in the comics and on screen.
The Punisher: War Zone joins Dolph Lundgren’s dark vigilante portrayal in 1989 and Thomas Jane’s portrayal in 2004 as Frank Castle in cinematic adaptations. In addition to Stevenson, the cast of Punisher: War Zone includes such well-known actors as Dominic West (The Wire), Julie Benz (Dexter), Colin Salmon (Resident Evil), Doug Hutchison (The Green Mile), Dash Mihok (Law & Order: Organized Crime), Wayne Knight (Jurassic Park), and many more. Gale Anne Hurd served as producer, and screenwriters Nick Santora, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway were responsible for the script. Valhalla Motion Pictures and Lionsgate co-produced the movie.
Pre-orders for The Punisher: War Zone Steelbook may be placed at Best Buy now in anticipation of its October 18 release. Review the release’s box art and features below:
NOTE: This is a STEELBOOK® ADDITIONAL FEATURE
To Become The Punisher, One Must Go Through Training
Production of Punisher: Battlefield
Audio Commentary with Director Lexi Alexander and DP Steve Gainer on “Creating the Look of the Film: Meet Jigsaw Weapons of The Punisher”
Publicity Clip for a Film