Anticipation is high for the return of Daredevil next month, especially since The Punisher is set to play a major role in the Marvel show’s second season. It has now been reported that Netflix is planning a spinoff show to focus on the vigilante fan favourite.
According to Variety’s sister site TVLine, Netflix is so happy with Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of vengeful, gun-toting Frank Castle that they are very close to commissioning a standalone show. A Punisher series would become the sixth Marvel show that the channel has developed–the others include Jessica Jones (recently renewed for a second season) and Luke Cage, which will debut later this year, plus the in-the-works Iron Fist and The Defenders.
In an interview with EW this week, Bernthal discussed taking on the role of Castle, who becomes The Punisher after the murder of his family. “It’s an important character, it’s one I’m honored to play,” he said. “This is a guy who means a lot to a lot of people and his character has resonance with law enforcement and military. People have been coming up to me on the streets of New York saying, ‘Do not mess this up.’
“What was important was the emptiness inside him,” Bernthal explained. “He’s dealing with this unbelievable loss. There’s unbelievable anger and hatred and shame. There’s a sense of responsibility and as a father and husband, if I were to lose my family on my watch… I had to put myself in as dark of place as possible the last six months.
“It’s going to be a special season. If you thought last season of Daredevil was dark, we’re going to a whole new place.”
Daredevil season two will hit Netflix in its entirety on March 18, 2016. It stars Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Elodie Yung, Rosario Dawson, and Scott Glenn.
