Return of the Punisher: Marvel Plans Own Special
Jon Bernthal himself will be involved in writing the script
The Punisher returns! It has been known for quite some time that Jon Bernthal will reprise his iconic role for "Daredevil: Born Again". But that's not the end of the story: According to a report by trade magazine Entertainment Weekly, the character will also get his own "Marvel Special".
For many fans, "The Punisher" is one of the best Marvel series. Jon Bernthal first took on the role of Frank Castle for the second season of "Daredevil". Due to his popularity, the character was given a spin-off spanning two seasons. Now the story of the Punisher is finally being continued.
The Punisher Special
But what exactly does the term "Marvel Special" even mean? Entertainment Weekly reports that the "Punisher Special" is similar in nature to "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special" or "Werewolf by Night". Both productions are special versions and a kind of short film with a running time of just under an hour. This is probably also the approach that the "Punisher" special will take.
Head of Marvel Television Brad Winderbaum describes the story as exciting and having "all the emotion you want out of a Frank Castle story". The special will be directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who previously teamed up with Jon Bernthal for the HBO series "We Own This City". Green will also co-write the screenplay with Bernthal.
Winderbaum recently announced that Disney was also considering a return of The Defenders. So we can hope for projects with Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. But first, Marvel fans may want to keep in mind the date of March 4, since that's when the long-awaited "Daredevil" sequel "Born Again" premieres.
The Movies and Series of the Punisher
The "Punisher" is one of the most famous and toughest characters in the Marvel universe. With his iconic skull symbol and a story of revenge revolving around the loss of his family, Frank Castle has made a lasting impression as the Punisher in comics, movies and series alike. Let's take a look at the most important movies and series in which the Punisher has made an appearance:
The Punisher (1989)
The first live-action film about the Punisher was released in 1989 under the direction of Mark Goldblatt. In this movie, Frank Castle is played by Dolph Lundgren and fights against the mafia and crime. Although the movie was not too well received by critics, it managed to establish a small cult following.
The Punisher (2004)
In 2004, a new version of the Punisher was adapted for the big screen. Director Jonathan Hensleigh chose Thomas Jane to take on the role of Frank Castle. This movie likewise tells the classic story of the Punisher.
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
The third movie featuring the Punisher character, "Punisher: War Zone", was released in 2008 and stars Ray Stevenson in the role of Frank Castle. In this film, Castle is hunted by a mysterious criminal cartel and continues his brutal revenge. However, this movie was also unable to achieve great commercial success.
Marvel's Daredevil (2015-2018)
Before the Punisher got his own series, he first made an appearance in the second season of "Marvel's Daredevil". Jon Bernthal was introduced as Frank Castle, who loses his family to crime in Hell's Kitchen and then seeks his vengeance on the criminals as the Punisher. Bernthal's performance was critically acclaimed, and the character of the Punisher fit perfectly into the gritty and realistic world of Daredevil. His role in the series was a major factor in sparking interest in a standalone Punisher series.
Marvel's The Punisher (2017-2019)
"Marvel's The Punisher" is the Punisher's first standalone series, which hit Netflix in 2017. The series, developed by Steve Lightfoot, focuses on Frank Castle (played by Jon Bernthal) who, after the death of his family, goes underground as the Punisher and unravels the conspiracy behind his family's murder. With its dark tone and violence typical of the character, the series was regarded by many as one of the best productions in the Marvel Netflix universe. The series delves deep into the psyche of Frank Castle and sheds light on his inner conflict between revenge and morality.
The first season was a tremendous success and established the Punisher as a complex and tragic character. The second season, released in 2019, continued the story. The series was later canceled along with other Marvel series on Netflix when they ended their partnership with Marvel.
