Is the world really ready for a PG-13 Punisher movie? Well, it seems that Lionsgate thinks so, and is pursuing a PG-13 rating for Punisher: War Zone, according to a report from Latino Review

Lionsgate has already clearly had differences of opinion with director Lexi Alexander, who has reportedly been fired from the film, whose own website no longer even mentions the film. Now it seems that the studio may be trying to find a way to bring in the higher box-office numbers that they believe a PG-13 rated superhero movie can bring.

The decision to strive for a more family friendly rating is probably due to the level of violence that Warner Brothers managed to show in The Dark Knight. But there is a huge difference between violence in Batman and the violence fans would expect from the Punisher. Batman is a superhero, he doesn't kill people. The Punisher is a vigilante, and his enemies often are killed, violently.

We'll all know for sure what sort of final cut Lionsgate ends up with for Punisher: War Zone when the film explodes into theatres September 12, 2008.

Punisher: War Zone was released December 5th, 2008 and stars Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Doug Hutchison, Colin Salmon, Wayne Knight, Dash Mihok, Julie Benz, Stephanie Janusauskas. The film is directed by Lexi Alexander.