Variety reported today that Munich-based film fund VIP Medien is joining forces with Artisan Entertainment and Marvel Enterprises to produce a new feature film based on Marvel's gun-toting avenger, The Punisher.  Hollywood veteran Gale Ann Hurd (The Hulk) is producing the new Punisher film with Stan Lee serving as executive producer and Jonathan Hensleigh, who wrote the scripts for Jumanji and Armageddon, is making his directorial debut.

 

Backing the $30 million Punisher epic is the first major Hollywood deal for VIP Medien, which reportedly raised $105 million in capital last year.   VIP's financial support clears the way for production; filming should start later this year.  Look for an announcement of the actor who will portray Frank Castle (and mercifully help us forget about Dolph Lundgren) in the near future.