In "Punisher," the two-time Oscar nominee will portray Howard Saint, a man involved in the criminal underworld who has managed to conceal his violent beginnings and become a paragon of society until, when his son is brutally slain, a darker, vengeful side re-emerges . "The Punisher" is based on Marvel Comics' popular vigilante hero, who dispenses harsh justice to criminals after his wife and children are slain by the mob. Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad, who is producing along with Gale Anne Hurd, said: "John has proven through his career that he can inject into the most villainous roles an energy and humanity that registers with audiences, helping distinguish these characters beyond a traditional hero's foil."

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