All eyes may be directed to a certain Jessica Jones on the eve of her live-action debut via Netflix, though Marvel is toiling away in an effort to weave its intricate small-screen universe together. It was a vision that began earlier this year with the excellent crime noir Daredevil, an intense and gripping portrayal of the studio’s Man Without Fear that wasn’t afraid to indulge in R-rated fight sequences.
Pacing issues aside, it was a stellar debut for Charlie Cox’s rendition of Matt Murdock, and the critical reception has lent Marvel and Netflix a certain degree of confidence when it comes to the show’s sophomore season.
[zerg]Such confidence has naturally led to the studios thinking bigger for Daredevil season 2, drafting in marquee villains such as Elodie Yung’s Elektra Natchios and Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle – AKA The Punisher. Out of the two, it is perhaps the latter that has been gaining the most traction among budding fans. Bernthal’s musclebound antagonist is a force to be reckoned with, and any set images that emerged earlier in the show’s timeline showcased a bloodied and bruised villain.
One thing’s for sure: Matt Murdock will be up against it in early 2016, and speaking to IGN, Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quasada believes that Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of the formidable lead is a carbon copy of the comic book original.
“I think we’d love to see something happen, but it’s way too soon to tell, and we don’t necessarily like to discuss which metrics we use to decide these things,” Quesada said. “But what I can tell you is anyone who is a hardcore Punisher fan is going to be blown away and incredibly satisfied by Bernthal’s take on Frank Castle. It’s one of those cases where it’s the character from the pages come to life.”
Daredevil season 2 will premiere exclusively on Netflix in early 2016. Meanwhile, Jessica Jones – the second pillar of Marvel’s small-screen universe – will make her bow on the streaming platform tomorrow. For our thoughts on the show, check out Isaac Feldberg’s review.
