"We Had To Walk Away": Jon Bernthal Originally Refused To Return For Daredevil: Born Again Before Marvel's Creative Overhaul Because Of The Punisher's Portrayal

Published Mar 19, 2025

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WARNING: This article includes spoilers from Daredevil: Born Again episode 4.After making his return to the the MCU timeline, but this time on Disney+ through Daredevil: Born Again season 1. However, as big as it was for the fans to finally get The Punisher back on screen, the journey of getting Bernthal into the MCU again was not an easy one.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bernthal disclosed how he declined to come back in the initial version of Daredevil: Born Again before the creative overhaul of the series. For Bernthal, the iteration of Frank Castle that they were looking to portray didn't sit right with him, as he shared the following:

Jon Bernthal: 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 and I thought 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.

What Jon Bernthal's Daredevil: Born Again Punisher Comments Mean

Ever since Bernthal got cast as The Punisher for Daredevil season 2 and his own Netflix show, the actor has demonstrated care with the character and his depiction of him. That is why it is not shocking at all that he would be against a vision in Daredevil: Born Again season 1 that went against what he and fans already knew of Frank from following his time on screen. Luckily, the creative overhaul did not only rectify this, but also brought Bernthal in to have a voice in how to bring Punisher back.

In the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bernthal shared how the new Daredevil: Born Again creative team were willing to work with him as they brought Punisher back into the fold. Bernthal said, "They really brought me into the conversation. We really got specific about where Frank is psychologically, where Frank's at physically." Time will tell if Bernthal or if the current or past Daredevil: Born Again creative team will ever elaborate what was initially planned for Frank in season 1.

Our Take On Jon Bernthal's Daredevil: Born Again Punisher Comments

Frank Castle aiming his guns in The Punisher

Given Bernthal's massive commitment to The Punisher, it makes sense why he is very protective of how Frank is depicted, especially after having been gone as long as he has been from the MCU. Following the events of Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, as there are still a couple of episodes left to air. To find out how Punisher fits into the rest of the season, fans will have to keep tuning in for Daredevil: Born Again every Tuesday on Disney+.