The Cast is Set for "The Punisher"

Final casting has been completed for Artisan Pictures and Marvel Studios highly anticipated event film "The Punisher" as a collection of talented and established actors have signed on to play key roles in the film based on Marvel Comics’ enormously popular comic book series of the same name. In addition to Thomas Jane as the title character, John Travolta as “Howard Saint,” Laura Harring as “Livia Saint,” and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as “Joan,” the principal cast will include Samantha Mathis ("American Psycho") as the Punisher’s wife, Amanda Castle. Will Patton ("Remember the Titans") will play Leonard Glass, the right-hand man to villain Howard Saint while James Carpinello (“Felicity”) will play the role of Howard Saint’s son, John Saint. Mark Collie ("Fire Down Below") will play the evil assassin Harry Heck. Ben Foster (“Six Feet Under”) has been cast as Spacker Dave and John Pinette ("Duets") as Mr. Bumpo, both friends of Frank Castle. Eddie Jamison ("Oceans Eleven") will play Nicky Duka, and Russell Andrews ("The In-Laws") will play the role of FBI Agent Jimmy Weeks.

"The Punisher" tells the story of FBI undercover agent, Frank Castle, who until now has beat considerable odds. A former Special Forces operative, he is finally moving out of the field and into a desk job – and a normal life with his wife and son. Then Castle’s world is shaken to its core by a nightmare he has longed feared: his family is executed as a repercussion from his final undercover assignment. With unparalleled intensity, ferocious intelligence and fearless actions, Castle seeks to punish the murderers – and finds the one thing he least expected: redemption.

The film is being directed by renowned screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh and produced by Marvel’s Avi Arad ("Spider-Man," "X-Men," "Daredevil," "The Hulk") and Gale Anne Hurd ("The Hulk," "Aliens," "The Terminator"). Principal photography will commence on August 2nd in Tampa, Florida and the film is scheduled to hit theaters in summer 2004.

"The Punisher" rises out of the ongoing Artisan and Marvel joint venture designed to develop, produce and distribute Marvel character-based programming across all media with profits generated from each project shared equally after distribution fees are incurred. The Artisan/Marvel joint venture agreement was negotiated by Artisan Entertainment CEO Amir Malin and Marvel’s Avi Arad.

Artisan Pictures President of Production Richard Saperstein, Artisan Entertainment Executive Vice President, Patrick Gunn and Artisan Pictures Executive Vice President of Production Andrew Golov along with Artisan Pictures Director of Development, Rachel Murray are shepherding The Punisher at the studio. Marvel Studios’ Vice President of Production, Arri Arad, will co-produce and Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios’ Executive Vice President, will serve as an executive producer.