It was always the plan for Marvel to keep two of their television properties The Punisher and The Defenders separate from one another.
The Punisher is nearly with us, ready to land this Friday in its entirety on Netflix. The Jon Bernthal led series is the first solo outing for this latest screen incarnation of the character, with many having enjoyed Frank’s’ appearance during season 2 of Daredevil.
However, Frank didn’t turn up during this 2017’s The Defenders series, as apparently Marvel wanted to keep the two apart. This is according to a recent interview with Punisher showrunner Steve Lightfoot.
Speaking to syfy.com about his new show, Lightfoot said:
“When I came in to take the show on, it was always very clear to me that they wanted it to sort of tell its own story and run on its own track and not really intersect with what was happening in The Defenders. That was part of the brief.
“I guess I could speculate on the reasons for that, but I think from what I understand the original concept for the four characters that became The Defenders was always the plan and the Punisher spun out of that. But very much certainly when I came in the brief was always that it was to be its own show and its own thing separate from that.”
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Whether or not Punisher will remain separate and not mingling with others in the Netflix MCU will likely depend on the show’s success.
After exacting revenge on those responsible for the death of his wife and children, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) uncovers a conspiracy that runs far deeper than New York’s criminal underworld. Now known throughout the city as The Punisher, he must discover the truth about injustices that affect more than his family alone.
The Punisher features a cast that includes Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Ben Barnes (Billy Russo), Jason R Moore (Curtis Hoyle), Michael Nathanson (Sam Stein), Daniel Webber (Lewis Walcott), Amber Rose Revah (Dinah Madani), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Micro), Jaime Ray Newman (Sarah Lieberman), Paul Schulze (Bill Rawlins), Shohreh Aghdashloo (Farah Madani) and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in an as-yet-unrevealed role.
Originally published November 15, 2017. Updated December 1, 2022.
