Evidence continues to mount that Jon Bernthal’s hardboiled Frank Castle (AKA The Punisher) will swing by for a cameo appearance in The Defenders when Marvel and Netflix’s team-up series premieres next month.
First spotted by Bleeding Cool, a roll call for the show’s forthcoming panel at San Diego Comic-Con has fuelled speculation that Bernthal’s gun-toting vigilante has a role to play opposite Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Mike Colter’s musclebound Luke Cage, even if Marvel has continually dismissed rumors of a Castle crossover. Of course, after resonating with fans throughout the second season of Daredevil, The Punisher is prepped and ready to headline his own standalone series – a standalone series that’s expected to air in November – so a brief cameo opposite the reluctant heroes of Harlem and Hell’s Kitchen could help tie both shows closer together. Assuming Bleeding Cool’s report holds true, of course.
The Defenders panel is due to take place on Friday, July 21st, when SDCC will play host to Mike Colter, Finn Jones, Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Elodie Yung, Deborah Ann Woll, Jessica Henwick, Marco Ramirez, Jon Bernthal and Jeph Loeb, one of the key architects behind Marvel and Netflix’s street-level comic book universe.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that Jon Bernthal may have booked his place on said panel simply to promote The Punisher and nothing else, though the fact that Marvel has lumped him in with The Defenders certainly raises more questions than answers. Perhaps the former Walking Dead actor will showcase the first footage from his standalone series? With a November release window seemingly on the cards, Marvel and Netflix will certainly want to fire up the marketing machine sooner rather than later, before doubling down on The Punisher at New York Comic-Con in October.
As things stand, all eight episodes of The Defenders will be available to stream from August 18th. The Punisher, meanwhile, will likely be with us in November, but what are your thoughts on this purported cameo appearance? As always, you can drop your comments in the usual place.