The Punisher Is Getting His Own Netflix Series

Marvel's The Punisher will be getting his own Netflix series with Jon Bernthal, who played the character in season 2 of Daredevil, reprising his role, according to EW. The site also says Marvel has appointed Hannibal's Steve Lightfoot as showrunner.

Reports that a series starring Frank "The Punisher" Castle was being considered first surfaced on January 18. Netflix was said to have been pleased with Bernthal's portrayal of the gun-toting vigilante, so much so that it was planning to give him his own show.

The Punisher series will be the sixth show resulting from the collaboration between Netflix and Marvel. In addition to Daredevil, the streaming service has Jessica Jones, which was recently renewed for a second season, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, which will debut later this year. These characters will then unite in The Defenders.

As of yet it is unclear whether the character will join Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist for the upcoming team-up series The Defenders, but EW says "it seems likely he'll at least pop in."

Bernthal previously discussed his portrayal of Castle, who becomes The Punisher after the murder of his family.

"It's an important character, it's one I'm honored to play," he said. "This is a guy who means a lot to a lot of people and his character has resonance with law enforcement and military. People have been coming up to me on the streets of New York saying, 'Do not mess this up.'"

"What was important was the emptiness inside him," Bernthal explained. "He's dealing with this unbelievable loss. There's unbelievable anger and hatred and shame. There's a sense of responsibility and as a father and husband, if I were to lose my family on my watch... I had to put myself in as dark of place as possible the last six months."