Jon Bernthal’s return as Frank Castle in Daredevil: Born Again comes with a brutal first encounter. While investigating the murder of Hector Ayala (Kamar de los Reyes), Matt Murdock ( Charlie Cox) follows a lead tied to a bullet marked with the Punisher’s skull insignia. This trail leads him straight to Castle, who greets him in the most Punisher-esque way possible—by nearly taking his head off with an axe.
For Bernthal, stepping back into the role for the first time since The Punisher left Netflix in 2019 was just a trial run. “It was like, let’s see if this works,” he tells Entertainment Weekly. “Let’s see if there’s a real openness and hunger to let Frank be what Frank is—dark, complex, and completely unafraid to alienate the audience by steering clear of humor or cuteness.”
It seems to be working. Alongside Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Marvel has greenlit a standalone Punisher TV special, inspired by Werewolf by Night. Although his return in Episode 4 is brief, Bernthal believes it’s just the beginning. “I feel like it’s opened the door to getting closer to the Frank Castle that I really, really want to portray,” he says.
A ‘Shotgun Blast’ of a Story
Bernthal’s reunion with the character wasn’t as violent as his on-screen moment with Murdock, but it wasn’t without challenges. Disney+ initially developed Daredevil: Born Again as a procedural, with less connection to Netflix’s original Daredevil series. Bernthal wasn’t on board with that direction. “I didn’t see it,” he admits. “The version of Frank they presented didn’t make sense to me, wouldn’t appeal to fans, and didn’t feel authentic.” Unwilling to compromise, he walked away.
Then came a major creative overhaul. Marvel brought in new lead writers and tapped The Punisher veteran Dario Scardapane as showrunner. This time, Bernthal was actively involved in shaping Frank’s arc. “They really brought me into the conversation,” he says. “We got specific about where Frank is psychologically and physically.”
Bernthal credits Scardapane, second unit director Phil Silvera—who helped define Frank’s combat style on Netflix’s Daredevil—stunt double Eric Linden, and Marine Raider Nick Koumalatsos for helping refine his approach. “Sometimes you have to be very clear with your intentions in this business,” Bernthal says. “It’s not about how much you love playing a character. You have to do it justice—for the fans and for those who believe in it.”
The Devil on Daredevil’s Shoulder
In Daredevil: Born Again, Frank Castle plays the devil on Matt Murdock’s shoulder. While Murdock struggles to contain his darker impulses, the Punisher pushes him toward the edge. He may have taken out some corrupt cops along the way, but Castle’s brand of justice remains as ruthless as ever. And if this “toe dip” into the character is any indication, Bernthal’s Punisher is only getting started
