Netflix Orders THE PUNISHER To Series
Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in a new Marvel series from Netflix.
The Punisher is back. Locked and loaded.https://t.co/nGKCa2taEV
— Netflix (@netflix) April 29, 2016
As first reported by Entertainment Weekly, Netflix made the announcement on Friday the 29th, making The Punisher the sixth project to hit the network after Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Defenders. The project is part of an overall deal that has Netflix investing nearly $1 billion in programming.
Hannibal‘s Steve Lightfoot will serve as executive producer and showrunner. He’ll also write the first two episodes.
“For me, the complexity and unpredictability of Frank Castle make him an incredibly compelling character and I couldn’t be more excited to dive into his world,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “After watching Jon’s performance in Marvel’s Daredevil I could not be more excited to be working with him to further develop and progress the story of this anti-hero in a show of his own.”
Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s exec in charge of television, added, “We want to thank the fans who are clamoring for more of Jon’s stunning and powerful performance as Frank Castle from Marvel’s Daredevil. Now combined with showrunner Steve Lightfoot’s compelling writing, we’re thrilled to bring Marvel’s The Punisher to Netflix.”
Netflix VP of original content, Cindy Holland: “Jon hooked our global audience with his performance as Frank Castle from the moment he stepped on screen in Marvel’s Daredevil, and we are looking forward to seeing more of him in this role under the vision of Steve Lightfoot.”
According to Variety, Marvel’s Daredevil is one of the most popular shows on the network, although Netflix doesn’t release official audience performance numbers. By the estimates, 10.7% of subscribers watched at least one episode in the series’ first eleven days of its availability.
Bernthal’s Punisher was introduced in the second season of Daredevil, and word began circulating back in January that Netflix was planning a spinoff. No word on whether Castle will show up in The Defenders, but if he’s still hanging around Hell’s Kitchen, it’s a safe bet he’ll at least have a cameo.
Created by Gerry Conway and artist John Romita, Sr., the Punisher made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (Feb. 1974). The character was originally intended by Conway to be a second-tier supporting character, but his popularity led to several series over the years.
