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We’ve seen quite a few actors portray Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, on the big screen. None of them managed a big hit at the box office, so it’s not surprising that Marvel is trying the character out on the small screen next, rather than make another movie.
Many have suspected The Punisher could show up on Netflix’s Daredevil series, and now we have official word this is the truth.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor Jon Bernthal will fill the skull shirt (he better have a skull shirt) for the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with Daredevil season 2. Bernthal is best known for his role on the first couple seasons of The Walking Dead.
He’s also memorable in The Wolf of Wall Street and, for you younger readers, he was famous gangster Al Capone in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Now he’ll be a vigilante antihero who goes after guys like Capone.
It’s almost uncanny how perfect-looking he is for the part. Almost as if the comic book character had used him as a model and then later he also got cast to play him, a la Samuel L. Jackson and Nick Fury.
Now, what we’re all thinking and hoping: if Bernthal is popular enough on Netflix, can he graduate to a feature? We’ll see.
Also, will he share a screen with Jason Statham, who was recently rumored to be playing Daredevil villain Bullseye on the series? It seems he’s too tough for superhero stuff and seems to suggest his grandma for the gig instead in this interview:
Meanwhile, in other news regarding the streaming binge-watch side of the MCU, ComicBook.com has confirmed that the next show in the Netflix stable of Marvel properties is just titled Jessica Jones, not “AKA Jessica Jones.” That debuts sometime this year.
Daredevil season 2 will arrive in 2016. In the meantime, see Bernthal in this summer’s indie favorite Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.