FilmBuff
02-25-25, 11:26 AM
The Punisher is coming back to the telly, and this time, he's getting his very own special.
(The "Special Presentation" mentioned in the article is a one-time only show that's usually under an hour, and isn't necessarily intended to have any follow-up).
Jon Bernthal's Punisher will headline Werewolf by Night-style Marvel special: 'Like a shotgun blast of a story' (https://ew.com/jon-bernthal-punisher-headline-post-daredevil-marvel-special-exclusive-11685810)
https://ew.com/thmb/gb8what92jHBR5tInysOU1QShjY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Jon-Bernthal-Daredevil-Born-Again-Set-1-040324-068b3bb6a6204864a21655e7c6a63fda.jpg
While Marvel continues to plot out a space for the Defenders roster of characters on Disney+, at least one will be branching off to do his own thing.
Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, will officially return after an initial appearance in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, as the actor's gun-touting angel of vengeance will also headline his own Marvel special in the vein of Werewolf by Night or The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Entertainment Weekly can exclusively confirm.
Bernthal is also writing the script with his We Own This City director Reinaldo Marcus Green, who will helm this standalone special. "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," Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel Television, tells EW. "It's so exciting."
Winderbaum tells EW the story concept for the Punisher special came while filming season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, which will premiere two episodes on Disney+ this March 4. On that show, Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock goes to Frank "because he needs something done that he's unwilling to do," Winderbaum previously teased. "And Frank, a bull in a china shop, drives right to the heart of the matter."
"Bernthal is a generational actor," Winderbaum says. "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."
(The "Special Presentation" mentioned in the article is a one-time only show that's usually under an hour, and isn't necessarily intended to have any follow-up).
Jon Bernthal's Punisher will headline Werewolf by Night-style Marvel special: 'Like a shotgun blast of a story' (https://ew.com/jon-bernthal-punisher-headline-post-daredevil-marvel-special-exclusive-11685810)
https://ew.com/thmb/gb8what92jHBR5tInysOU1QShjY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Jon-Bernthal-Daredevil-Born-Again-Set-1-040324-068b3bb6a6204864a21655e7c6a63fda.jpg
While Marvel continues to plot out a space for the Defenders roster of characters on Disney+, at least one will be branching off to do his own thing.
Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, will officially return after an initial appearance in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, as the actor's gun-touting angel of vengeance will also headline his own Marvel special in the vein of Werewolf by Night or The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Entertainment Weekly can exclusively confirm.
Bernthal is also writing the script with his We Own This City director Reinaldo Marcus Green, who will helm this standalone special. "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," Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel Television, tells EW. "It's so exciting."
Winderbaum tells EW the story concept for the Punisher special came while filming season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, which will premiere two episodes on Disney+ this March 4. On that show, Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock goes to Frank "because he needs something done that he's unwilling to do," Winderbaum previously teased. "And Frank, a bull in a china shop, drives right to the heart of the matter."
"Bernthal is a generational actor," Winderbaum says. "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."