Punisher

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.

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.

We're less than a week away from the return of Netflix's Daredevil series, and this time, The Punisher and Elektra are coming along for the ride. To celebrate this, Comixology has a fortnight long sale on some of the best Daredevil, Punisher and Elektra stories in recent memory so you can catch up on the comics before the new series begins. The sale includes the first volumes of classic Daredevil runs, including Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's legendary character defining work with the character from the eighties. Also by Miller and David Mazzucchelli is the seminal Daredevil: Born Again which was a major influence on the first season of the television series.

Marvel’s Daredevil returns his horned brand of vigilante justice to Hell’s Kitchen as early as this Friday, introducing MCU takes on The Punisher and Elektra Natchios for Season 2. We’ve already touted Marvel’s most explosive season yet, but before your own binge, get answers to some of Daredevil Season 2's most burning questions with our spoilery FAQ review of the first seven episodes!

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.

Late last night (and early this morning) saw Daredevil Season 2 sensing out a surprise look at Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Elodie Yung’s Elektra fully outfitted in their final getup, over a week before the premiere. Now, a new teaser offers and even closer look at all three gearing up to take on a mysterious “ancient evil.”

Marvel’s Netflix ‘Daredevil’ returns for 2016 with a punishing and confident Season 2, full of darkly rich new characters and an even more heightened sense of action. Our early review, before all episodes suit up for streaming on March 18!