The Punisher

Fans of Daredevil’s Kingpin were undoubtedly disappointed to hear that Vincent D’Onofrio wasn’t likely to menace The Defenders, even as his specter still looms over Hell’s Kitchen. D’Onofrio previously claimed to know when Wilson Fisk might return, but does his 2017 production schedule rule out Daredevil Season 3?

We don’t yet have the clearest picture of how Marvel’s Netflix Punisher spinoff will fit in with the other Defenders series (beyond a 2017 premiere), but at least its cast is hard at work. See for yourself, as the full assembled roster behind The Punisher stands tall, not punishing things in a new cast photo.

Marvel and Jon Bernthal officially confirmed that The Punisher had gotten to work on the streets of New York, though you’d never known it by the newest set photos. Even as Frank Castle has been sporting a different look, it looks like Marvel’s violent anti-hero has found a much more constructive line of work.

Jon Bernthal got tongues wagging with reports that Netflix’s Punisher spinoff had already started filming, and now Marvel is finally backing it up. Not only do we know for sure that 2017 will see the Punisher’s return, but also three major additions to the Netflix cast.

The timeline of Marvel’s post-Luke Cage Netflix series remains somewhat unclear, a prospect made more confusing by recent reports that Jon Bernthal would soon start filming his Punisher spinoff. Now, new set photos claim filming is already underway, which could put a premiere sometime in the next year.

The Punisher remains the most elusive of all Marvel’s Netflix series, as-yet unscheduled and unconfirmed to take any part in The Defenders crossover. Still, Frank Castle’s solo series may yet be moving forward, casting Chronicles of Narnia alum Ben Barnes a mysterious role.

As good as many of the Marvel movies have been  —  and they’ve been very, very good  —  perhaps my favorite part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is its complicated web of secrecy and lies. Each cast member has to be prepared to talk about Marvel movies at a moment’s notice, to speak to the entire design of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, without giving away proprietary information or giving entertainment reporters the wrong kind of soundbite. If Disney were smart, they would launch an Aaron Sorkin-produced television series about the politics of press junkets. I would watch the heck out of that.

Even as Marvel’s Netflix Punisher spinoff may take a backseat to Iron Fist and The Defenders until 2018, fans knew as early as Daredevil Season 2 what Marvel character Frank Castle might seek out next. So it may be, as reports suggest Netflix’s Punisher has begun preliminary casting for a role of Micro-importance.

For as long and Marvel and Netflix have been putting out series, we’ve had to wonder about release strategy. Two per year has remained the norm; first Daredevil and Jessica Jones in 2015, then Daredevil Season 2 and Luke Cage in 2016, and with Marvel now confirming renewal for the former, as well a Punisher spinoff, it seems all else will wait until after The Defenders.

As with Daredevil himself, Jon Bertnthal’s Frank Castle didn’t properly adopt the mantle of The Punisher until late in Season 2, but might the character change his ways in time for the confirmed spinoff? Bernthal himself says the Frank Castle we followed through Daredevil was very much not “The Punisher” as fans know him, though that could certainly change.

It didn’t take for the hype of Jon Bernthal’s Punisher to generate talk of his own Daredevil spinoff, though Marvel and Netflix were quick to keep expectations down, even as Season 2 clearly set the character up for his own adventure. Now, Frank Castle’s war journal is officially open, as Marvel confirms a spinoff, showrunner and all.

All of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be erupting into Civil War, but why can’t two heavy-hitters have a friendly talk? Daredevil Season 2 may answer that question, as new footage sees Matt Murdock and The Punisher using their words, rather than their fists.