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Punisher Star Jon Bernthal Reveals Why He Almost Didn't Return For Daredevil: Born Again

by Jason Apr 09,2025

Since the 2015 Netflix series, it's become almost unthinkable to picture Charlie Cox's Daredevil without Jon Bernthal's compelling portrayal of The Punisher. However, Bernthal recently shed light on why he initially declined to reprise his role as Frank Castle in the Disney+ revival, Daredevil: Born Again.

The actor, known for his role in The Wolf of Wall Street, shared that his initial hesitation stemmed from the creative direction proposed for The Punisher. "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," he revealed to Entertainment Weekly. Bernthal expressed concerns that the proposed direction would not resonate with fans and felt it was incongruent with the character's established persona. "I thought [it] would not appeal to the fans and wouldn't be congruent. It was not something I was really interested in doing. So we had to walk away."

Following a significant creative overhaul after the strikes, the series saw the appointment of Dario Scardapane as the new showrunner. This change marked a turning point for Bernthal, who had previously collaborated with Scardapane on *The Punisher*. "They really brought me into the conversation," Bernthal noted, indicating a more inclusive approach to character development. Discussions with Scardapane and Marvel focused on refining Frank Castle's psychological and physical state, aligning more closely with Bernthal's vision for the character.

Warning! Spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again follow.

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