Jon Bernthal stepped back into the role of Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, for Daredevil: Born Again. Fans celebrated seeing the actor return to the Marvel universe after his time on the Netflix series. But the path to bringing back this version of the character was not simple. Bernthal nearly walked away from the project for good.
The actor first played the Punisher in the second season of Daredevil on Netflix in 2016. He later led his own show, The Punisher, which ran for two seasons. When Marvel Studios started developing Daredevil: Born Again for Disney+, the plan was to bring back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk. Adding Bernthal seemed like a natural next step. But behind the scenes, the actor had serious doubts about the direction for Frank Castle.
Jon Bernthal Said No to the First Version of the Show
When Marvel first approached Jon Bernthal to reprise his role as the Punisher, he turned them down. The original version of Daredevil: Born Again was built differently. According to Bernthal, the show was structured more like a procedural drama. The tone and the writing did not connect to the darker, more grounded world that the Netflix series had built for Frank Castle.
“Ultimately, I didn’t see it. I didn’t see the version of Frank, and what they wanted from Frank [didn’t] really make sense to me, and I thought would not appeal to the fans,” Bernthal told Entertainment Weekly. “It was not something I was really interested in doing. So we had to walk away.”
Bernthal has always treated the character with deep seriousness. His portrayal of the Punisher focuses on the trauma and pain that drive Frank Castle. The actor did not want to deliver a version that felt out of place or did not honor what had come before. Walking away was not an easy choice, but he felt it was the right one.
Marvel’s Creative Overhaul Brought Him Back
The production of Daredevil: Born Again went through major changes. Marvel Studios decided to rework the series after filming several episodes. New creative leaders came on board. Dario Scardapane, who worked on The Punisher Netflix series, joined as the new showrunner. This shift changed everything.
With Scardapane in charge, Marvel reached out to Bernthal again. This time, the vision for Frank Castle matched what the actor wanted. The show moved away from the procedural format and returned to the tone that fans loved from the Netflix era. Bernthal also became part of the creative process.
“They really brought me into the conversation,” Bernthal said. “We really got specific about where Frank is psychologically, where Frank’s at physically.”
The actor worked closely with the team to shape Frank’s return. He also worked with his stunt double Eric Linden and second-unit director Phil Silvera. Nick Koumalatsos, a Marine Raider, helped Bernthal understand the psychological depth of the character. Bernthal even wrote most of the dialogue for his first scene in the new series. Disney executives reportedly praised that scene, and it helped set the direction for the rest of the show.
The Punisher’s Role in the Story
In Daredevil: Born Again Season 1, the Punisher appears in a limited but powerful role. Matt Murdock tracks down Frank Castle while investigating the death of Hector Ayala. Their reunion is tense and violent. Frank nearly swings an axe at Matt before they talk.
Bernthal described this appearance as a “toe dip” back into the character. He wanted to see if Marvel would allow Frank to stay dark, brutal, and psychologically complex. The test worked. Frank acts as the devil on Matt’s shoulder, pushing him toward his darker instincts. He challenges Matt’s moral code, arguing that holding back only causes more pain.
The first season ends with Frank locked up in Wilson Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force prison. But he does not stay there long. A post-credits scene shows him taking down a guard, setting up his escape.
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What Comes Next for Jon Bernthal’s Punisher
Fans will see more of Bernthal’s Punisher in the Marvel universe. A standalone Punisher Special Presentation is in the works for Disney+. Bernthal is helping write the project with director Reinaldo Marcus Green. He described the special as a psychologically complex, brutal, and unforgiving look at Frank Castle, where violence comes with real consequences.
Bernthal is also set to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which releases in July 2026. The Punisher special is expected to stream around the same time. That means Frank Castle will have a busy year in the MCU.
For Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, which arrives on March 24, 2026, the Punisher will not have a major role. Production on the second season wrapped in mid-2025. Showrunner Dario Scardapane confirmed that filming has finished. While Bernthal’s Frank Castle does not appear in the new season, his presence is still felt. A trailer showed Matt Murdock inside the Punisher’s hideout, suggesting that Daredevil is using the space while Frank is away.
The actor’s commitment to the character has earned respect from fans. He turned down a major paycheck because the story was not right. He waited until Marvel got it right. Now, Frank Castle is back in the MCU, and the future looks packed with more stories for the Punisher.
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