Ever since it was announced that Punisher fans would finally be seeing their idol onscreen again in season 2 of Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’, there’s been intense speculation on what direction the new project would take their favourite character.
The Punisher has an exceptionally loyal and devoted fanbase within the Marvel family, to the extent where he’s become somewhat of a cultural icon, held sacred by those involved in many aspects of public service and the armed forces.
And you can’t say that he hasn’t been given a fair chance in the wide and wacky world of Marvel Entertainment. Much like ‘Ghost Rider’, despite his debut movie offering only achieving moderate financial success and with critics being unkind to it, Marvel’s most notorious anti-hero still managed to get an ill-conceived sequel made, which effectively closed the door to him for access to the newly developing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So, let’s start firstly at the end, so to speak. Today’s trailer concluded with two things (for those of you didn’t see the trailer, it’s at the bottom of the page):
The onscreen appearance of Elektra. And an announcement that there will be a second part to this trailer in 10 days time. Now this is important, because I don’t think in isolation this trailer shows the full direction that Castle will be taking in ‘Daredevil’. In fact, it may well be deliberately downright misleading.
The Frank Castle that Jon Bernthal has introduced us to here is intense, to say the least. This trailer segment pitches him head on at Matt Murdock, on a complete collision course. Bernthal appears to be pitching his portrayal of the vigilante just beyond the point of sanity and rational thought, yet managing to remain simultaneously focused and consumed by a clear goal.
We are given a glimpse of Castle’s work and methodology. Sniping the drivers of moving vehicles. The insides of a bar reduced to matchwood by immense firepower. Bodies grabbed and used as shields. Grenade rounds. And this is all one man. On a crusade. Sound familiar?
The look appears toned down from the comic version. No apparent skull logo. Face clean shaven with hair high and tight, bedecked in body hugging dark clothing. Less Clint Eastwood and more Taxi Driver, Bernthal seems to have perfected the distant stare, delivering his lines with a brooding intensity. His voice is simmering with rage, ready to explode at any instant. This is a darker Castle, much darker than we’ve been used to.
Somehow the two and a half minutes seem to make this Punisher appear less humane and more unhinged than previous incarnations, which is really something when you consider the Ray Stevenson version seen in the neon mess that was ‘Punisher: Warzone’.
So, is that it, then? Daredevil vs Punisher in a fight to the death? Fists flying and trash talking? No. I think not. Those gorgeous rumours about the Punisher getting his own series on Netflix simply refuse to die. And I can’t see that happening if all the character is going to be used for is a villain against Matt Murdock.
I suspect the second trailer will mirror this one in introducing Elektra, who lets not forget, is an assassin and killer. Scott Glenn’s ‘Stick’ and ninja clan ‘The Hand’ are also set to return, and so I believe the next two and a half minutes of footage will feature poor old Matt Murdock getting kicked senseless by his ex-girlfriend.
In the wider Marvel Universe both Elektra and Frank find redemption, and certainly end up on the right side of the law, despite their methods. Following that line of thought, and despite what the trailer is suggesting, I think there’s a lot we’re not being shown here, and the Punisher’s activities will be part of something bigger. It may be the reintroduction of Wilson Fisk and his wife, or some other villain stepping up to fill the power vacuum, but I’ll wager that Matt and the other two may well end up with some form of common enemy towards the end of this season’s story arc.
From the feedback I’ve seen, the fans have gone mad for Bernthal’s portrayal, and perhaps this darker and more unhinged version might be what’s needed to make the character a success beyond his fanbase. Certainly the negatively around Bernthal’s casting, and the worry he would just replicate his ‘Walking Dead’ performance seem to faded away.
So let’s all take a deep breath, and wait the ten days until the next trailer, and see if I’m remotely correct in my predictions. Oh, and let’s hope we do get to see Bernthal bedecked in the Skull T-Shirt. Because that’s what we all want, after all…