Initial filming is already well underway for the newly commissioned Netflix series ‘The Punisher’, which has tentatively been scheduled by the streaming ompany for an arrival at some point in 2017. This didn’t stop Jon Bernthal from making time for a brief, yet eventful appearance at NYCC last week. One of the highlights was seeing this new incarnation of Frank Castle pausing for photos with Diego Luna, who has recently made his debut as the new Ghost Rider in ‘Agents Of SHIELD’. Bernthal also managed to raise a few laughs in the hall when he predicted during an interview that The Punisher would come out on top in a hypothetical fight between Frank Castle and Bruce Wayne.
It was back to business on Monday though, as ‘Just Jared’ continued their persistent run of snapping the 40 yr old actor as he filmed in and around the Brooklyn area. So far, other than a few shots of Bernthal skulking around the backstreets, and sharing a few scenes on a park bench with Deborah Ann Woll, who will be cameoing in the new Netflix series as Karen Page, these photos haven’t been the most exciting things to look at.
What they have done, however, is raise a few eyebrows amongst the more devoted followers of the character. Specifically in relation to the actor’s scruffy and heavily-bearded appearance. Before the arrival of Woll on set, Punisher fans had been speculating that the look being sported by the notorious anti-hero may be a flashback of some kind, perhaps to his shadier days in the military. But the snaps of him on set in company with his ‘Daredevil’ co-star clearly date the material at some point in the aftermath of Season 2 of Daredevil.
Check out the latest set pictures below (more at the link):
Now, I doubt Punisher fans were honestly expecting a figure-hugging black combat suit, emblazoned with that trademark skull, and a fully clean-shaven jawline. Bernthal and show-runner Jeb Whedon had already confirmed that the character was still in the process of evolving into The Punisher, and was still more Frank Castle than his famous alter-ego. But the long hair and impressively bushy beard are quite different from the classic Punisher profile.
Will this look last the whole series? Is it a new direction that the show’s producers are looking to take? Doubtful. More likely, Castle is trying to keep out of sight, and has adopted this Bill Bixby look in order to avoid the authorities. His meetings with Page will most likely focus him, and set him back on the path to becoming The Punisher.
The latest photos have upped the excitement ante somewhat by now finding Bernthal perched atop a derelict building, before having to grab hold of another actor who is falling/being dangled off the rooftop. Once again, the look is casual. Open shirts, vest tops and jeans. Frank’s certainly going to have to raise his game if he’s going to compete with the pre-Jigsaw Billy Russo who was announced last week, with fans waiting to see Ben Barnes make his debut appearance in the role.
The production notes for this new version of Russo state that rather than being a psychotic and preening gangster, he served in the marines with Castle, and now runs a private security firm named ANVIL. Given that Clancy Brown’s villain in the last series of DD was codenamed ‘The Blacksmith’, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Russo is going to be up to his neck in the conspiracy that surrounds Castle. Or that he’ll be losing those trademark good looks of his by the end of this debut season.
As soon as we get some shots of Barnes, or indeed Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s ‘Microchip’ on set, you guys will be the first to know. Along with daily beard updates too. Naturally.