Marvel Issues Cease & Desist To ‘Punisher’ Fan Film Producer

October 9th, 2013

Kriston McConnell

First of all, I had no idea a fan made film of Marvel’s The Punisher was being made. Secondly, I am sad to say that the reason I found out is because Marvel has issued a cease and desist on the production of the film. The movie in question, The Dead Can’t Be Distracted, is being targeted because Marvel claims fans “won’t know it’s not an official Marvel production” which would obviously cause problems. Does it sound like Marvel thinks its fans are incompetent? That’s what it sounds like to me. I digress. Here’s what the film’s producer, Mike Pecci, had to say about the action Marvel has taken:

They demanded I take down all materials surrounding the film and told me that I was not allowed to release it. According to Marvel it would “confuse the audience” into believing that it’s an official Marvel production. At first I was flattered that the quality of our work might even compare to the millions they spend on production and advertising, but then the reality of it all set in. Marvel legal was demanding that I don’t release the film! Since when does Marvel go after fan films? Wasn’t there a recent and heavily promoted Punisher fan film with Thomas Jane? What could I do about this? Before I try to answer that, let me start at the beginning.

According to his website, the original authors of the comic love the idea of the fan film and are curious to see more of it. Does that mean the film will be released? There’s no certainty yet, but Mike has encouraged fans to write to Marvel and ask to allow the film to be released. You can see all of what he had to say on his official website.