As a long-time fan of Kevin Nash’s work, particularly his portrayal of “The Russian” in the iconic 2004 film, “The Punisher,” I must say I was a tad disappointed with the casting choice for the character in the recent blockbuster, “Deadpool & Wolverine.” While I understand that change is inevitable in the entertainment industry, and actors retire or move on to other projects, it’s hard not to feel a pang of nostalgia when a cherished character is recast.
In this action-packed adventure featuring Deadpool and Wolverine, a multitude of Marvel characters made appearances, some from films outside the MCU. Often, the original actors reprised their roles (I can’t help but notice Chris Evans), but in certain instances, a new actor was selected to step into the character’s shoes. One such character was “The Russian,” last seen in a live-action role in 2004’s The Punisher. Previously portrayed by professional wrestler-turned-actor Kevin Nash, this time around, the character is brought to life by stunt actor Billy Clements (known for his work as Black Widow). Recently, Kevin Nash has shared his thoughts on this casting decision.
In the latest installment of “Kliq This: The Kevin Nash Podcast,” Kevin himself delves into the surprising appearance of The Russian in a recent movie. Although he doesn’t explicitly say whether he was invited back for another round, his eagerness to talk about it hints that he would have shared the news had Marvel reached out to reprise the role as a nod to the 2004 “Punisher” film, which boasts a devoted fanbase. Despite my own reservations about stepping foot on a movie set once more, Kevin did voice his concerns over the character’s brief depiction in that movie.
Nash found it displeasing that the updated version of The Russian no longer resembled the character from the movie, as his original appearance, with a blonde buzz cut that matched the comic’s description, was replaced by a man with brown hair and a thick beard. In other words, he complained about the change in the actor’s physical appearance compared to the initial portrayal of the character.
That looks nothing like the character I played. That looks nothing like The Russian.
After the suggestion of me taking on roles similar to Deadpool or Wolverine in movies, I found myself pushing back against this idea. At my current stage in life, the notion of traveling for a film production simply doesn’t excite me. During our podcast discussion, I couldn’t help but express my sarcastic feelings about the repetitive nature of being on set.
“Hello there! I’ve got an idea for my future that I’m excited about. Instead of being at home all the time, I dream of staying in a hotel and working long days, perhaps 12 hours. During these days, when I’m not working, I’d like to study lines for the next day. At night, I’d rehearse lines while cooking and eating dinner, and during my makeup sessions the following day, have someone run lines with me. Whenever I get a break from shooting scenes, I’d also practice lines again. Ideally, I’d find someone to help me rehearse when we’re not on set.”
The retired WWE Hall of Famer occasionally takes on roles, notably as Tarzan in the 2023 film “Magic Mike’s Last Dance”. You can also find him on WWE shows, along with some low-budget action and horror movies. Other films he has appeared in are “Dog”, “John Wick”, and the remake of “The Longest Yard”.
Kevin Nash Was Stabbed by The Punisher For Real
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can tell you that my time on the set of “The Punisher” wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. In an unexpected turn of events, my co-star Thomas Jane accidentally stabbed me with a real knife! The fight scene between our characters, where my Russian character barges into Frank Castle’s apartment to take him out, is one of the movie’s most intense moments. Initially, Castle was supposed to use a butterfly knife in the fight, but unfortunately, the props master failed to swap out the real knife for a stunt one. As a result, I ended up getting stabbed in my collarbone during filming. In an interview, Thomas Jane himself recounted this mishap, highlighting the unpredictable nature of movie-making.
In a chilling moment as a movie enthusiast, I drive the knife deep into his torso. It pierces him, sinking in…He gazes down at me, shock etched on his face, and there’s a blade jutting from his chest. The irony was bitter – he was so amiable, radiating an air of kindness that made you think twice about challenging him. Yet, in an instinctive response, I expected him to retaliate violently. Instead, he merely looked at the knife, then me, and shook his head. As a token of apology, if my memory serves me right, I sent him a few cases of beer.
Thomas Jane originally portrayed the Punisher in a single movie, and later on, in 2008, Ray Stevenson took over the role in “Punisher: War Zone.” The character was then adapted for television in 2017, with Jon Bernthal stepping into the shoes of Frank Castle. This version of the Punisher is set to reappear in the upcoming Disney+ series titled “Daredevil: Born Again.”
Deadpool & Wolverine
is now playing in movie theaters.
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2024-08-08 15:01