Jon Bernthal’s return as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in ‘Daredevil: Born Again‘ is one of the most anticipated moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years. Fans of the character, who last saw him in ‘The Punisher’ series in 2019, have been eager to see how he fits into the reboot.
However, getting Bernthal back on board wasn’t as simple as making a phone call. The actor, known for his deep commitment to authenticity in storytelling, initially walked away from the project. Moreover, the reason explains why fans trust Bernthal’s instincts.
Jon Bernthal Only Agreed To Return As The Punisher After ‘Daredevil: Born Again’s Creative Overhaul
Jon Bernthal has never been one to take on a role lightly, especially when it comes to Frank Castle. Since first portraying ‘The Punisher’ in Daredevil Season 2, Bernthal has demonstrated an immense understanding of the character’s depth, pain, and complexity. That’s why it was no surprise when he revealed in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview that he originally refused to return for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’.
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According to Bernthal, the initial version of the show’s storyline didn’t align with his vision for Frank Castle. “Ultimately, I didn’t see it. I didn’t see the version of Frank, and what they wanted from Frank didn’t really make sense to me and I thought would not appeal to the fans and wouldn’t be congruent. It was not something I was really interested in doing. So we had to walk away.“
Thankfully, after Marvel’s creative overhaul of the series, Bernthal returned, bringing with him the same intensity and dedication that made his Punisher portrayal so iconic. His passion for the character ensured that Frank Castle would return in a way that stayed true to what fans loved about him. For Bernthal, it wasn’t about the paycheck or just being part of the MCU again. It was about doing justice to Frank Castle.
Bernthal further shared that after the creative overhaul of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, the new team brought him into the conversation. He had a voice in shaping where Frank Castle was, both psychologically and physically. This collaborative effort ensured that The Punisher’s return wouldn’t just be a gimmick. So, here we are, finally getting another opportunity to see Frank Castle in action.
“We Broke Some Stuff”: The Punisher’s Explosive Return
With the changes made behind the scenes, Jon Bernthal’s return to ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ became something to truly be excited about. The showrunner, Dario Scardapane, is no stranger to Frank Castle’s world as he was an executive producer on ‘The Punisher’ series. Moreover, Scardapane hyped up Frank Castle’s upcoming arrival in ‘Born Again’.
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He claims that fans should expect absolute chaos. “Whenever you put Frank and Daredevil together, all bets are off. It’s a tornado. I mean… we broke some stuff!” The Punisher and Daredevil’s interactions have always been electric. Now, this statement only adds to it. Moreover, the buildup to The Punisher’s return has already begun in the show, with hints of his presence scattered throughout the early episodes.
His iconic skull symbol has been spotted on the shirts of vigilantes and in tattoos worn by corrupt police officers, signaling that his influence is still alive in New York City. However, his official return is expected to be nothing short of explosive. “He comes in for a very, very particular reason, he is brought in by a very, very particular person, and I think that it will be immensely satisfying — and a bit like, ‘Oh, my God,’” Schardapane added.
