Nothing is Confirmed But DAREDEVIL Season 1 Showrunner Would Return For a PUNISHER Spin-Off if His Schedule is Open
The buzz for a spin-off PUNISHER show on Netflix is louder than ever right now. Which is crazy because he won't been seen in DAREDEVIL Season 2 until it airs sometime in the second quarter of 2016. This is a product of a Netflix executive hinting that more Marvel spin-off series are possible just a few days ago.
Actor Jon Bernthal is playing Frank Castle / Punisher in DAREDEVIL Season 2 and Season 1 showrunner Steven DeKnight spoke with Comic Book Resources about if there's any chance he would return to Marvel and Netflix to helm that possibly spin-off.
"Oh, I'd love to if my schedule was open, yeah. Yeah. Because I thought when they cast [Jon Bernthal] as Frank Castle, I thought it was brilliant casting, and I would love to work with him. But I'm very -- I'm so glad it's in such good hands, and I can't wait to see what they do.
"Punisher was one of my favorite characters. I've talked to Jeph Loeb ever since I first met him back on 'Buffy' about doing 'The Punisher.' So it was a heartbreak for me to have to leave. But I knew it was in good hands, and I loved everything we had started talking about, about Frank Castle being in that story."
DeKnight is convinced this version of the Punisher will be the definitive live action version of the character since the property rights reverted back to Marvel a few years ago.
"Yeah, you know the thing about 'The Punisher,' and I think there are great things about each of those versions. But none of them was completely the Marvel version. And none of those movies were under the Marvel Studios banner, until they recently got The Punisher back. So this is really the first time that we're seeing the Marvel Studios from the 'Iron Man' days, when they could control their own product to actually do this character."
If (a big IF because nothing has been confirmed) DeKnight did develop and helm a potential PUNISHER spin-off series, if still wouldn't be as violent as some fans would probably want it to be.
"The first season of 'Daredevil' was violent, but I always say it was more implied. It wasn't nearly as violent as 'The Walking Dead,' a show that I love. Because on those, if somebody were to crush somebody's head in a car door, you would've seen the head crush onscreen. But we didn't want to go quite that far. We wanted to keep it right around PG-16, and not all the way, all R. I have no idea if they're planning to push it that far next season, but I would be surprised."
All of this talk about a possible PUNISHER Netflix spin-off while DAREDEVIL Season 2 is still in production and filming is just a big, fat clue that Marvel and Netflix might be seriously considering it. And with all the talk and hype that is already building for it, if it doesn't happen it would almost seem like a big letdown because fans are already behind it even though it's just all just talk and speculation right now.
UPDATE! DAREDEVIL Season 2 Set Photos Debut Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / Punisher