Jon Bernthal Says It's A Real Honor To Play Frank Castle In Punisher Netflix Series

Jon Bernthal, previously known as Shane Walsh on The Walking Dead, took up the role of The [...]

The Punisher
(Photo: Marvel Entertainment)

Jon Bernthal, previously known as Shane Walsh on The Walking Dead, took up the role of The Punisher in the Marvel Cinematic Universe earlier this year on Daredevil. The actor did such a tremendous job with the role and became so beloved by fans that Marvel granted him his own Punisher series.

Very little is known about The Punisher series so far, not even an expected year of release, but Bernthal is excited to gear up for the role and deliver the precious character to the fans once again. He is diving head first into the character to bring us the best Frank Castle possible.

"I'm tremendously excited about it," Bernthal tells Deadline. "I look at it as a real joy and a real responsibility and a real honor to play Frank Castle. I feel like he's in my bones now and he's in my heart. I'm ready to keep going with him. As far as what this show's going to be, and what it's going to be about, and when it's going to shoot, and where it's going to shoot and all that, unfortunately I don't know anything. It's kind of part and parcel with the way that Marvel works. Information is definitely on a need to know basis. I am nervous, and I just want to do this character and this world justice.

Bernthal also went into detail about how thoroughly (and why) he dedicates himself the challenging role of a man who has lost everything. "I think it absolutely deserves an element of immersion," Bernthal explains. "I don't think it would be respectful to the character that so many fans have adored for years, I don't think it would be fair to the members of the American military who have worn the Punisher insignia on their battle armor and have fought and died for our country. I don't think it would be fair to the members of law enforcement that have adopted this character, and the millions of fans it means so much to. For me to be at nightclubs and bars and restaurants and hanging out with my kids and just being a happy guy, and being on my phone, turning up on set, playing pretend, that's not how I work and that's not how I want to work. So shut off the other things, to shut off the comfort, and to shut off the escape and television and things like that, I think that that's part of the job. It's definitely how I worked on with Frank."

The next Marvel hero coming to Netflix is Luke Cage in his self-titled series set to arrive in September.

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