Summary
- The Punisher's MCU debut in Daredevil: Born Again is highly anticipated after recent changes from Marvel, indicating a shift towards darker and grittier storytelling.
- The first trailer for Echo, Marvel's first TV-MA show, promises a level of violence and brutality reminiscent of Netflix's Defenders Saga series, suggesting a more mature direction for the MCU.
- Allowing The Punisher to maintain his trademark violence in the MCU will enhance the complexity of his character, as it raises morally questionable questions and blurs the line between hero and villain in Frank Castle's narrative.
MCU debut in Daredevil: Born Again, and his arrival is even more exciting after recent changes from Marvel. Jon Bernthal made his first appearance as Frank Castle/The Punisher in Daredevil Season 2 on Netflix. After his character became a fan favorite, Netflix and Marvel green-lit a spinoff, which premiered in 2017 and ran for two seasons. Since the Netflix Marvel universe ended, many wanted Bernthal to jump over to the MCU. However, it was hard to imagine Disney approving that since The Punisher isn't family-friendly.
Hope for The Punisher's return rose when the MCU brought Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin and Charlie Cox's Daredevil into the main timeline. However, Castle is still a character so closely tied to graphic violence that it'd be hard to adapt that for a universe that has remained chiefly PG-13. Now, there should be more excitement for Punisher's MCU debut as the first trailer for Echo shows Marvel may be moving toward delivering darker and grittier stories.
Daredevil Born Again: Everything You Need To Know
After being teased in MCU films and television shows, Matt Murdock returned to the screen for a Disney+ series, Daredevil: Born Again.
Punisher's MCU Debut Can Be As Violent As It Deserves After Recent MCU Reveals
Echo was a show people knew little about, even after the character's debut in Hawkeye. However, the first trailer was not only promising for the series but for the MCU as a whole. The trailer was brutal, showcasing more violence and blood than expected. In fact, it doesn't look dissimilar from Netlix's Defenders Saga series. Blade, which was recently confirmed to be rated R.
Echo and the other R-rated projects represent a shift in Marvel that will only benefit The Punisher. When The Punisher enters the MCU, he can be as violent as before as the studio can make it TV-MA and cater it to a more mature audience. It's not confirmed if Daredevil: Born Again will be TV-MA, but with Kingpin and Frank Castle returning, there's a good chance it will be. Bernthal has an unhinged fury that he brings to The Punisher, and it's heightened when he's soaked in blood and filled with rage. This version of the character could be a possibility in the MCU.
Daredevil: Born Again is set to release in 2024, but it could be delayed due to creative issues and the ongoing actor's strike.
Why Punisher Needs Violence More Than Other Marvel Heroes
The Punisher is a complicated hero to root for. While he does go after people who deserve punishment, his deadly and gory version of justice makes it hard to condone his actions. If the violence with his character is toned down, it takes away the impact his actions have. He's a morally questionable character, and the most intriguing aspect of him is that he walks the line of hero and villain. If the MCU allows The Punisher to be as violent as he needs to be, it will allow those complicated questions to play a more believable role in Frank's unfolding narrative.
