Even though the MCU’s Disney+ shows have been quite successful, Netflix has always been home to the MCU’s more grounded characters, such as Moon Knight and Ms Marvel. The Punisher became one of the most watched shows on the service. Rosario Dawson, a former Marvel star who played Karen Page, has said that the sequel to her bloody adaption The Punisher is “happening again.” This weekend at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Dawson broke the news during a panel.
Dawson portrayed Claire Temple in a number of Netflix Marvel series, including Daredevil, Luke Cage, and The Defenders, so there is that. She was like the Night Nurse figure from the Marvel comics, but from Netflix. The actress did admit that The Punisher was one of the few shows she didn’t feature on. It looks like Dawson would like to make it a thing of the past by making an appearance in the new show. The Punisher, as portrayed by Frank Castle in Netflix’s adaptation, first appeared in Daredevil Season 2 before getting his own show in 2017.
Even at C2E2, Dawson couldn’t stop praising Jon Bernthal, who played the violent icon. Bernthal’s performance as the Punisher would be the perfect illustration of the term “pitch-perfect casting” in any reference book. Though it only aired for 2 seasons, the show was as excellent as Daredevil. Bernthal’s acting as the Punisher was superb, and the episode as a whole was everything a fan of the character could want.
Bernthal has been in great demand ever since his breakthrough portrayal as this legendary figure, and he has appeared in several films & television shows, including Ford v. Ferrari, Those Who Wish Me Dead, King Richard, and We Own This City. It shouldn’t be that shocking that The Punisher would be coming back in some way in the MCU considering the SDCC revelation that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil will return in a new 18-episode series named Daredevil: Born Again. The Punisher’s transfer from Netflix to Disney+ earlier this year was another indicator.
Although Dawson’s comments aren’t an official statement, it’s certainly a fair guess that Bernthal will be back for Born Again, especially considering the success of the previous films and the fact that both Brian Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio are set to reprise their roles. Who knows, maybe The Punisher may make his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut in the forthcoming Daredevil series, much like he did in his Netflix iteration. Next month at D23 we will be on the lookout for any further information on The Punisher. It is yet to be seen if Marvel Studios is ready to adopt the same R-rated tone as the Netflix show.
However, until further details emerge (such as whether or not Bernthal or Dawson will return), the original Punisher series is now available to stream in its entirety on Disney+.