Netflix’s time with The Defenders (The Punisher, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist) is amongst some of the best TV out there. Fans of the shows long for more mature, more cohesive, and quite frankly, longer seasons of TV. Marvel and Disney+ are at least giving fans what they want with more content from these characters. According to EW, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is returning for a Marvel Special Presentation in the same vein as Werewolf By Night and The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special. Bernthal is co-writing the script with We Own This City director Reinaldo Marcus Green, who will direct the special. Here’s what Head of Marvel TV Brad Winderbaum had to say about the show.
“It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story. It’s so exciting.”
The genesis of the idea came about during the filming of Daredevil: Born Again which has a premiere on March 4th, 2025 with two new episodes. That show sees Charlie Cox return as Daredevil where he goes to Frank Castle “because he needs something done that he’s unwilling to do,” according to Winderbaum. And Frank, a bull in a china shop, drives right to the heart of the matter.”
Winderbaum had great things to say about Bernthal and his performance as The Punisher.
“Bernthal is a generational actor, He’s incredible what he brings to all the roles he plays, but particularly Frank Castle. And he’s a great writer. He knows the character inside and out…. Also, I love Punisher, but I love Jon’s Punisher in particular. The idea that he’s in the MCU and can bring that to the greater universe, especially the more grounded street-level stuff, is a huge opportunity and, as a fan, the greatest thing ever.”
Daredevil: Born Again brings back multiple characters and performers from the Netflix shows like Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Fisk, and Wilson Bethel as Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye.
There are rumors and rumblings that Marvel is looking to bring back the rest of The Defenders at some point, but Winderbaum was mum in his response.
“I can’t say much. but I’ll tell you that it’s so exciting to be able to play in that sandbox…I can just say that all those variables taken into account, it is certainly something that is creatively extremely exciting and that we are very much exploring.”
What Does This Mean For The Punisher And Marvel?
This is exciting news for any fan of the Netflix TV series or just The Punisher in general. Frank Castle is one of the most popular comic characters these days and his special brand of justice resonates with people. This could be a dry run for a new series with the character or a stepping point for The Defenders to make a return. Either way, more from Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is a great thing.
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Source: EW
