Jon Bernthal's Punisher is making a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not in the way you might expect. Following his appearance in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1, the Punisher will star in a standalone Marvel special, described as having a Guardians of the Galaxy style. Entertainment Weekly reports that Bernthal is also co-writing the special with We Own This City director Reinaldo Marcus Green. Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television, promises a story that packs a powerful punch while retaining the emotional depth fans expect from Frank Castle.
Daredevil: Born Again
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This Punisher one-shot announcement coincides with Marvel Television's plans to bring back the Defenders on Disney+. This team of street-level heroes—Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Iron Fist (Finn Jones)—last appeared on Netflix before their shows moved to Disney+ and became part of the MCU canon.
Winderbaum previously hinted to Entertainment Weekly about the creative possibilities, acknowledging the limitations of television production compared to the boundless scope of comic books. He emphasized the exciting creative challenges and opportunities in exploring these characters within the confines of a cinematic universe.
Daredevil: Born Again, premiering March 4th, continues the Daredevil story from Netflix, featuring returning characters like the Punisher and Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk (Kingpin). This time, they face a formidable threat: the artistically inclined serial killer, Muse.