Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is set to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the upcoming Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again. This news has been met with excitement from fans, who have come to know and love Bernthal’s portrayal of the character from his appearances in Netflix’s Daredevil and The Punisher.
In an interview with Collider, Bernthal discussed the types of people who may be drawn to Frank Castle’s brand of justice and family. According to Bernthal, there is a little bit of Frank in everyone, and he named comic book fans, first responders, veterans of the armed forces, and people from all over the world as examples.
Bernthal also emphasized the importance of future Disney portrayals and adaptations of The Punisher staying true to the original work in order to preserve the character’s integrity. “I think there’s a reason why that character has resonated as deeply and strongly as he has,” Bernthal said, “In the hearts and minds of comic book fans and first responders and people in the military and people all over the globe. I think there’s a little bit of Frank Castle in everybody.”
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Daredevil: Born Again, which will consist of 18 episodes, will mark The Punisher’s first appearance in the MCU. Bernthal has been confirmed to return as The Punisher for Born Again, but it remains to be seen what kind of role he will play in both the series and the MCU going forward. This is a significant departure from Disney’s usual format of six or nine episodes, and it will provide ample opportunity for Bernthal’s Frank Castle to be fully integrated into the series and the franchise as a whole.
The showrunners of Daredevil: Born Again, Matt Corman and Chris Ord, are taking creative license with the adaptation, as The Punisher does not appear in the Born Again comic book series. However, this also indicates that they and Disney have plans for Bernthal’s transformation into the renowned antihero. The Born Again comics are primarily the story of Matt Murdock and Kingpin, as Karen Page reveals the former’s true identity, leading to Matt’s downward spiral and eventual homelessness. Kingpin sends various goons, including soldiers with superpowers, to kill Matt when he is at his most vulnerable.
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Fans have expressed their excitement about Bernthal’s return to the role of The Punisher, and it’s clear that he is enormously protective of the character. Bernthal’s performance as Frank has become synonymous with the antihero, and it’s likely that he wanted a real, authentic arc for the character instead of simply reprising the role for the sake of it or, worse, giving Disney free rein to modify the antihero; “I’m gonna do my absolute best to make sure that, if and when we do it, we do it right.” Bernthal may have also been concerned about the potential recasting of the character, as fans have expressed worry about what will happen to Karen and Foggy.
Bernthal’s return to the MCU and The Punisher marks a welcome development, even after his recent high-profile roles in King Richard and We Own This City. There is potential for Disney to explore the Doctor Strange/Punisher Magic Bullets comic storyline or for Frank and Moon Knight/Marc Spector to be allies, as they frequently are in the comics. Regardless, Frank’s commitment to protecting the defenseless and innocent makes him a valuable addition to the MCU, and fans are eagerly awaiting his appearance in Daredevil: Born Again. Bernthal’s conviction, much like Frank Castle, is unwavering: “He exists very strongly inside me and I care about that character deeply. I also know that it’s absolutely essential that if we do it, we do it right and we have real sacred integrity to the source material and to what is at the core of Frank.”
If only Disney was as protective of Marvel’s lore as Jon Bernthal is of his favorite.
Are you hyped over Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher coming to Disney+? What other R-rated characters would you want to see Disney bring into the MCU? Leave your comments below!
Disney doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. They have destroyed the MCU since Endgame. This series will be awful. At some point a woman will dominate and humiliate either Daredevil or the Punisher or both. And, of course, there will be a lesbian relationship and a “trans” character.