Jon Bernthal is the Punisher!

Well holy shit. After I had finished Season 1 of Daredevil, I had written an article about who we could see next in Season 2 of Daredevil that you could read here. In that article, the one character I was most excited for was the Punisher. He is one of my favorite Marvel characters and plainly just one of my favorite characters. Now, not only is the Punisher coming to Daredevil season 2, but he is being played by none other than Jon Bernthal. He is perfect casting for Frank Castle, and I’ve been waiting for him to finally get a role in the superhero genre. I was a huge fan of Thomas Jane, and in my eyes he will always be the Punisher, however Jon Bernthal is the perfect marriage between Thomas Jane and Ray Stevenson. Let’s break down some of the reasons why we should be excited for Jon Bernthal’s upcoming portrayal of the Punisher.

1. His Physique
   
   
   Jon Bernthal is 5’ 10” and is 169 lbs. The Punisher is supposed to be 6’ 1” and 200 lbs. Although Jon Bernthal is not the exact size he has a body type that looks very similar to Frank Castle. Charlie Cox who is also 5’ 10” is not quite as imposing as Jon Bernthal. I think we’ll see a similar dichotomy between Cox and Bernthal as we saw with Bernthal and Andrew Lincoln on The Walking Dead. Also, Jon Bernthal is just as built as Frank Castle is suppose to be.
2. His Career So Far
   
   
   We have seen Jon Bernthal play several different roles, but he always has recurring qualities throughout all of his characters. In The Walking Dead he was a man of extreme will and violence. He was ruthless, but had an internal fight against his humanity. That in and of itself is the essence of Frank Castle. Also, in Fury, he plays an extremely loyal mad dog who is known for being a little out of control. Again, very Frank Castle-esque. Even in The Wolf of Wall Street, he plays the hardcore drug dealer. He has his morals and doesn’t like to cross those much like Frank Castle has his code that he doesn’t break. He continues to do movies and shows that have garnered critical acclaim.
   
3. What Can He Bring to the Role?
   
   
   Bernthal has shown that he is a rising talent and demands the respect on screen that most A-list actors demands. We’ve seen him give physical performances and emotional ones. Much like Thomas Jane, Bernthal has had a few different performances, but has shown great promise in his ability to to have humanity intertwined with great brutality. Also, while still being a rather “unknown” actor, we can count on him giving this role his everything. He will work as hard as he does in every role so that he may gain a viable franchise.

I couldn’t be more excited for this news and I trust that Marvel will finally handle this character with the dignity and respect he deserves. Also, introducing him in Daredevil is an extremely wise move, considering that Marvel’s TV universe is much more violent and gritty than their movie universe. I really trust Jon Bernthal as an actor especially for a role as intense as this. I have been begging for years to see him in a starring role deserving of a wider audience, so that he could really show off his obvious talents. Hopefully, this will be that role for him.

What do you guys think? What did you think of this news? Was he your fancast? Do you think his inclusion in Daredevil is the proper introduction or would you rather see him somewhere else? Please let me know what you think in the comments below and be sure to follow me on Twitter @HaneyCasey.

Who Else Can We See Next To Daredevil in the Defenders?

By now you've either seen the news regarding, or hopefully seen the series, Daredevil. It was a marvelous spectacle of a show and was extremely well suited to the small screen. Daredevil is a character whose everyday battle against injustice is much more episodic in nature. Along with his character suiting the platform in which they released the show, the powerhouse that is Marvel put the right amount of money, planning, and talent into this property for it to be as successful as it is. That being said, what other characters could or should we see adapted to the small screen?

With the Defenders already being announced, it would make sense for Marvel to look at characters that have had some association with the team. I think it would be wise for them to stick to characters who are maybe a little less well-known. I want to see characters that perhaps haven't been given the proper telling on screen, and characters who are extremely interesting on page who can come to life in a series that gives them enough time to be fleshed out properly.

1. Moon Knight

Moon Knight joined the Defenders in the mid 70s and is a character with dimension. He is a character who is very relatable to Daredevil himself. He is a character who cares about his city and focuses on crime on a street level. Marvel is really emphasising the importance of those who devote themselves to everyday crime and corruption. Moon Knight, while being heavily focused on this crime also brings more of the supernatural side of things into the universe. Daredevil had a bit of this element to it, but Moon Knight could help explain and use this aspect of the Marvel universe while remaining grounded in the gritty street level crime.

2. Spider-Woman

Spider-Woman might seem like an odd choice given the fact that we are getting a Marvel-made Spiderman within the next couple of years, however I think a Spider-Woman episodic drama could be just the thing to bring two similar characters into the same universe. Spider-Woman could show us how someone who is older than a high school student would deal with the powers given to her. She also has many interesting storylines that can be interwoven throughout the television series as well as the movies.  She is a more mature character that would fit in with the other characters that are already confirmed to get their own series on Netflix.

3. She-Hulk

Like Spider-Woman, I believe She-Hulk would be the perfect way to explore how someone else deals with the powers that another hero has. She-Hulk is a very different character from the Hulk in every other way than her abilities. This is what can make her an interesting character. Like Matt Murdock (Daredevil) she is an attorney. Some of the legal courtroom parts of Daredevil were what helped keep the show so grounded and unique. I believe a She-Hulk drama could employ similar tactics, but from a different standpoint considering She-Hulk's outward appearance and abilities. She has a lot that could tie her in nicely with characters like Daredevil and Luke Cage, while still being different enough to bring another aspect of superheroin life to the table.

4. Ghost Rider

Yes, Ghost Rider. Let's all take a moment to burn the image of Nick Cage as Johnny Blaze out of our memories. Good. Now that that is done, we can actually talk about how cool Ghost Rider is. Like I mentioned earlier, Daredevil started to flirt with the idea of the supernatural, and I think Ghost Rider is another great way to dive into that world while still remaining grounded by a character who is just a man. Unlike Thor, or Loki, Johnny Blaze was just a man who had these magical powers bestowed upon him. It would be interesting to see how his relationship with the demonic could play against Daredevil's catholic heritage, as well as seeing Ghost Rider let out his inner demons while Matt constantly struggles to keep his inside. Also, Ghost Rider can bring that same determination to protect the innocent that we saw in Daredevil that helped humanize the man behind the mask. I believe this could help keep the burning skull a bit more human.

5. The Punisher

Finally, the character that I believe deserves to be told the right way by being on the small screen. Now that Marvel has the rights back, I don’t believe they will use Thomas Jane as the actor to portray their small screen adaptation of The Punisher, however I believe he was a great embodiment of what the character stands for. Much like Daredevil, he is brutal in his punishments, but he is obviously much more gruesome. This is why I believe the small screen suits him, because he could have that ultra violence that defines him, while still keeping his distance with the boy scouts of Marvel like Captain America and Iron Man. Also, the fact that he does in fact kill people could create a very intense dichotomy between he and the other Defenders. He could be someone who is still very integral to the team, but who remains annoyed by the others asking him not to kill. Finally, he is just a character that needs to be seen. He is such a tragic and interesting character that it would be a shame for Marvel to now have the rights and a suitable universe, just to sit on the rights and not do anything with him.

What do you think? Am I completely wrong? Do you like my choices for some characters that could be on the Defenders? Let me know what you think and who you’d like to see get a Netflix series.