Punisher's Jon Bernthal Shares Thoughts on Possible MCU Return: "Frank Is Always There"

Jessica Jones and The Punisher were both canceled by Netflix in February 2019 , and Frank Castle fans still feel pained at no longer being able to see Jon Bernthal in action as Frank Castle. He debuted in the second season of Daredevil to such extreme acclaim by critics and fans that he was given two seasons of his own show.

However, fans still have a glimmer of hope that Jon Bernthal could return as the gun-toting anti-hero, as Netflix's deal regarding the character rights will come to an end on February 18, 2021 and return to Marvel Studios . In an interview with a fan in the Middle East, Bernthal was asked directly about the possibility of returning as the character and gave his answer.

NEWS

Before attending Speedy Comics Con, the first-ever virtual Comic-Con in the Middle East, Jon Bernthal had an interview with Hasan Mohammad of The Geek Show.

Most of the interview was taken up by Bernthal responding to there being any hope at seeing his Frank Castle return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, whether it be in the movies or a continuation of his Netflix series. Bernthal was quick to give praise to the character of Frank Castle and what the character meant to him, and the opportunity that was given to him to play the violent vigilante.

So, my question is there any hope that we can see your Frank Castle again, in the big screen maybe, with the MCU or in a third season?

"I think with that there's always hope, you know? It's unbelievably humbling how much people sort of responded to this version of Frank and I can't tell you how much it means to me because he means so much to me and he's in my blood, he's in my bones. For me, it's really not a question ever with this kinda stuff about whether you get the opportunity to do it or not. I think too many people are focused on trying to get opportunity in this business, and for me, it's more about what you do with the opportunity you have. So, it's not about whether we do it, it's about getting it right and doing the version that the fans really deserve and we'll see.

Jon Bernthal finally gave his answer about any possible return as Frank Castle. He makes clear that such a decision is out of his hands, but that if he were offered the opportunity to return, he would do so in a heartbeat and "make sure that we do it right or we won't do it at all."

All of those decisions are made in rooms that I'm not invited into. You know and that's OK with me. I've got great stuff going on, I'm enourmously blessed to have as much work that's exciting to me and fufilling for me, but Frank is always there. He's always a part of me and when we get the call to go, I'll be ready and I'll make sure that I do everything I can to make sure that we do it right or we won't do it at all."

WHAT THIS MEANS

As Jon Bernthal said, Frank Castle returning to the MCU is out of his hands, but he seems to imply that it would have to be on his own terms as he says they would only "do it right or we won't do it at all." So, if Marvel Studios were to approach Jon Bernthal to reprise the role, one would imagine he would object to them, hypothetically, restricting the character to a PG-13 rating or rewriting the character in ways that Bernthal would find objectable to the character.

However, before he expressed his desire to return to the role if asked, Bernthal seemed to express satisfaction at being given the opportunity and not obsess over no longer playing The Punisher. He said, "too many people are focused on trying to get opportunity in this business, and for me, it's more about what you do with the opportunity you have."

This seems to imply that Bernthal was happy to have had the opportunity and time to play Frank Castle, but he has now embraced the opportunities he has now as an actor. Whether or not Jon Bernthal returns to the role, he surely left an impact on fans.