The flickering neon sign of the bar cast long shadows as I overheard two comic book fans arguing. “Bernthal is the Punisher,” one insisted, slamming his fist on the table. What I didn’t realize then was how close to the truth he was—and how soon we’d see Frank Castle back in action with the same brutal intensity we loved (and feared).
The Punisher’s Return: High-Octane Mayhem Confirmed
There’s a certain electricity that crackles in the air whenever Jon Bernthal’s name is mentioned in connection with The Punisher. Speaking with Screen Rant, Bernthal himself promised that Frank Castle’s methods will remain as “high octane” as previously seen in both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and his upcoming special on Disney+. The Punisher isn’t just a character; he’s a force of nature.
Around that same time [as Spider-Man: Brand New Day], there will also be this Punisher special that’s coming out that I think will be as sort of high-octane kind of Punisher as you’ve ever seen. And I think what was really important to me and to Destin [Daniel Cretton] and to Tom [Holland] is that we believed that the Punisher that could walk off of the Spider-Man set could walk on to the special set. I do believe that we achieved that.
@screenrantplus Jon Bernthal Is Ready For The Punisher’s MCU Film Debut #mcu #marvel #marvelstudios #marvelcinematicuniverse #jonbernthal #frankcastle #punisher #thepunisher #spiderman #spidermanbrandnewday #tomholland #peterparker #destindanielcretton
How does the Punisher fit into Spider-Man’s world?
Think of it this way: Spider-Man is a street-level hero dealing with muggings and supervillain bank robberies. The Punisher is a sledgehammer aimed at organized crime. Bernthal’s comments suggest a seamless integration, where the Punisher’s actions, while extreme, exist within the same gritty reality as Spider-Man’s New York. The nuance lies in how far is too far when fighting evil. Where does vigilantism end and justice begin?
Glen Powell & Sam Esmail Team Up for Sci-Fi Thriller
I overheard whispers at a coffee shop the other day about a new sci-fi project. According to Deadline, Glen Powell is in talks to star in Tesseract, an “original sci-fi feature” from director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot). Details on the plot are tightly guarded, creating more anticipation.
Cate Blanchett Returns to the World of Dragons
My niece, obsessed with dragons, nearly jumped out of her seat when she heard this news. Variety confirmed that Cate Blanchett will reprise her role as Valka in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2. Blanchett’s performance as the dragon-loving Valka added emotional depth to the animated sequel, so her return should set the bar even higher.
Fifteen Dogs: A Novel Adaptation
Imagine if your pet suddenly had the power of speech. Deadline reports that Chris Landreth is set to direct an animated adaptation of André Alexis’ novel, Fifteen Dogs. The story centers on a wager between Hermes and Apollo, who grant human-like consciousness to a group of dogs. The dogs must then grapple with concepts like love, death, and power.
Can horror films tackle profound themes?
Absolutely. Bowels of Hell seems to be a prime example. Variety reports that Blue Finch Films has acquired this self-described “genre-bending horror film” about a woman battling killer toilets. If the filmmakers pull it off, Bowels of Hell could become a cult classic, remembered not for its absurdity, but for its clever exploration of very deep-seated anxieties.
Diabolic Trailer Drops
We also have a trailer for Diabolic, in which a reformed Mormon (Elizabeth Cullen) discovers her old compound houses a demon.
Ted Returns
Finally, Ted returns for a second season this March 5 on Peacock.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Bernthal’s Punisher is a powder keg waiting for a spark. Are you ready for the explosion?