Since the 2015 Netflix series, it's become almost impossible to picture Charlie Cox's Daredevil without Jon Bernthal's portrayal of The Punisher. However, Bernthal recently shed light on why he initially opted out of the Disney+ revival, Daredevil: Born Again.
The actor, known for his role in The Wolf of Wall Street, shared that his initial hesitation stemmed from the creative direction proposed for his character, Frank Castle. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bernthal expressed his concerns: "Ultimately, I didn't see it. I didn't see the version of Frank, and what they wanted from Frank [didn't] really make sense to me. I thought [it] would not appeal to the fans and wouldn't be congruent. It was not something I was really interested in doing. So we had to walk away."
However, after the series underwent a significant creative overhaul following the strikes, producer Dario Scardapane stepped in as the new showrunner. This shift marked a turning point for Bernthal, who had previously collaborated with Scardapane on The Punisher series. "They really brought me into the conversation," Bernthal noted, indicating a more inclusive approach from Scardapane and Marvel. This allowed them to delve deeply into Frank's psychological and physical state, aligning more closely with Bernthal's vision for the character.Warning! Spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again follow.
