The Punisher ruined his career
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mrmovielover — 15 years ago(May 05, 2010 02:46 PM)
He was offered the role of Cyclops.
Also, he was offered the role of the Comedian in Watchmen.
He doesn't like playing comic book characters because they are not like the people of this world. He made the punisher a little for lifelike in the first film and more of a vigilante instead of a comic book character. Which is why he didn't do a 2nd punisher because of the arguments he had with the filmakers. Hopeflly he does another one.
"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you." -Gandalf -
wetbrain — 16 years ago(January 27, 2010 06:55 PM)
YES, his career was ruined (although not just by Punisher).
It's common for movie stars to move over to TV, but if we learned anything from watching Entourage, you only do TV when you are no longer on the "A-list" and can no longer star as lead in a movie.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned Jennifer Love-Hewitt as a classic example of once-promising, now derailed movie actress.
It's not just about money by the way, as TV stars can make more than movie stars in the right situations (Seinfeld anyone). it's about the STATUS. -
HeronGuard — 16 years ago(February 11, 2010 07:28 AM)
Only Tom Jane is responsible for the films that he makes. It's not just one film that ruins an actor's caress. The Punisher of 1989 was only a Punisher film in name only and Tom was not offered the Wolverine role.
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JoesGirl67 — 16 years ago(February 28, 2010 10:00 AM)
First of all, the myth that "movie" actors only move to television only do this because they can't get a lead in a film anymore is just that. A MYTH. Look at how many "A-list" actors are working on television now, many of them still starring in big movies, like Alec Baldwin (Compromising Situations). Not to mention stars like Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, James Gandolfini and many others who could still get a big film role at the drop of a hat.
The reason that most "film" actors are moving to television is because there's better work on TV. Better scripts, better characters, etc. Just look at the movies that are being made today. The only ones that are having any success are the comedies full of bathroom humor, or over-the-top horror movies, or movies based on comic book characters. There are very few real, substantive mov5b4ie roles to be found these days. Most everything that is being is a remake or part of a franchise. That's why many actors are either going to television or choosing to do independent films.
And yes, Thomas was offered the role of Wolverine and he turned it down because he didn't want to be typecast as a "superhero" character.
The attempt to force human beings to despise themselves is what I call hell. - Andre Malraux -
AndyEN — 16 years ago(March 04, 2010 09:44 PM)
Hadn't heard anything about Thomas Jane being offered the role of Wolverine. It's definitely true though that Jackman wasn't the first -pick. Dougray Scott was originally cast as Wolverine. I can't recall why he bowed out, but the initial casting was well publicized at the time.
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JoesGirl67 — 16 years ago(March 06, 2010 08:21 PM)
I do recall hearing that Dougray Scott was also tapped for the part, but Thomas was offered the part as well. He did a radio interview just this past week and he told the story of how Bryan Singer called him and asked him to test for the part, and he was all set to go to NYC to do it, but he was already booked to do a movie called
Under Suspicion
with Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman in Puerto Rico. Supposedly Singer tried to move heaven and earth to get Thomas the part without having to do the screen test, but the studio wouldn't budge and wouldn't hire him without seeing him first. In the end, he passed it up to do the movie with Freeman and Hackman.
The attempt to force human beings to despise themselves is what I call hell. - Andre Malraux -
viewangle — 16 years ago(March 12, 2010 09:53 PM)
I hated his character in Original Sin, which meant he did his job perfectly. His portrayal of Frank Castle in the Punisher, while not award-winning, is one of the very few things I found likable in that movie. I've also seen some of his earlier works; count me in as a fan. He's still making movies. That in itself, IMHO, is already a feat.
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GrownUpKid — 16 years ago(March 19, 2010 10:31 PM)
I don't know if it ruined his career or if his career is ruined but he was the best thing about that movie. I don't hate it but the movie was too conflicted. It wasn't sure if it wanted to be serious or campy, which I think will always be the case when they try to base it on Garth Ennis stuff. He was so awesome but J5b4ohn Travolta and company decided to ham it up like a Saturday morning cartoon.
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bluedragon2999 — 16 years ago(April 02, 2010 06:50 PM)
I actually really liked his Punisher movie, I thought he matched the character well. The initial character anyway trying to deal with everything that happened, before he became sort of the heartless guy he became later. I like both but his version of Punisher is much better than the one that happened in the horrid War Zone.
I do not think his career is ruined in any way. I would never have said he is an A list actor but he is capable without question. He is in a TV show, he gets decent movie roles in some solid movies and does some other things on the side. As far as I am concerned that is a pretty good life in the biz. Alot of the more down to Earth actors never want to have the risk of hitting it big then never again. I know if it were me I would rather have consistant success doing the things I enjoy than one movie that I looked at as could have been.
I liked Punisher too and think it is highly underrated. -
gl_link — 15 years ago(April 20, 2010 07:44 PM)
The first Punisher (director's cut) wasn't a bad flick. Before that I never heard of Jane and I thought he did well with the part. Personaly I liked Warzone better simply because it was more fun and i felt it got the dark humor the Ennis put in the books.
Punisher was good, but the mist is by far his best movie imo.
"I don't wanna know about you droppin St.Anger and flushing Death Magnetic"- Mark
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Dash_Rendar23 — 10 years ago(October 12, 2015 02:10 PM)
It pretty much did ruin his careerno matter how much his fanboys/Punisher 2004 fans want to say other wise. His career has never recovered since that time. Also take into account that not everyone even liked him as The Punisher and his movie. I remember all the hate he was getting when he was picked for the role and when his Punisher movie was released. Jane Punisher movie pretty much got the same reaction that Affleck Daredevil movie and Catwoman had gotten when they were released on the big screen from mainstream audiences and critics. The Punisher (2004) was being destroyed by everyone that had seen it at the movies which caused the movie to flop. It not was until it to DVD that people's opinions towards Jane and his Punisher movie changed which is funny. If you ask me he should have just taken whatever role FOX wanted to give him for X-Men instead of playing as The Punisher. I remember hearing rumors of such things a while back about this. I'm sure he regrets it now more then anything since he is still bitter over what had happen with everything involving his Punisher movies and career after his Punisher movies.
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thevintagecola — 10 years ago(January 19, 2016 02:55 PM)
He already had leads in roles like the terrible Deep Blue Sea movie, 61*, and supporting roles that were hit and miss way before 2004. He even played an antagonist in an Antonio Banderas/Angelina Jolie film in the late 90s so I don't think he was aiming really high, just for the roles he really liked and intrigued him.
Thomas Jane turned down the role of the Punisher several times and then the producer stalking him and sending him Punisher comics finally changed his mind. The Punisher did not ruin his career. No matter how much you dislike a film or an actor try to get the facts straight first. -
Thenewnexus — 10 years ago(March 11, 2016 09:30 PM)
Tom has mostly been a character actor with a few lead roles here and there,
character actors are really reliable and will accept those roles the leading men won't play even in movies that could potentially be bad.These days Tom is still a character actor.
BTW I thought the Punisher was a pretty fun movie,but I am sure with the Daredevil series and the Punisher series we will see a more accurate Frank Castle
Class is Pain 101. Your instructor is Casey Jones