Since Charlie Cox made his official return as Matt Murdock in 2021’s universally lauded Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans of Netflix’s myriad of Marvel shows have been excited in the hope that some of their other most prominent characters from the small screen might be about to make their Marvel Cinematic Universe debuts – such as Murdock’s collaborators in The Defenders, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and The Punisher.
Now, it seems as if one of the most hotly anticipated returns from a Marvel character is coming. In a recent appearance at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, when asked whether her character Claire Temple/Night Nurse would be returning, Rosario Dawson of Marvel’s Daredevil appeared to confirm that the studio is planning a revival of The Punisher.
“I found out yesterday that The Punisher was happening again,” she revealed. “So, I feel like it’s my second chance because that’s the only one of the shows I wasn’t in and I love Jon Bernthal. So, let’s all make it happen collectively, guys.”
Notably, Netflix’s The Punisher only ran for two seasons between 2017-2019, despite it being one of the most highly rated series on the streaming service. Starring Jon Bernthal as the titular anti-hero, he made his first debut as the character in the second season of Daredevil. Critically acclaimed across the board, many have argued that Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle is the definitive one.
Speaking about the show last year, Bernthal explained that he’d only return to the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe if Marvel Studios continues to convey the same darkness that makes the character and the comics what they are, which the TV show did perfectly.
The Punisher was created by Steve Lightfoot, and alongside Bernthal, it featured, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ben Barnes, Amber Rose Revah, Daniel Webber, and Deborah Ann Woll.