Ever since the 2015 Netflix series, Charlie Cox's Daredevil has become inseparable from Jon Bernthal's portrayal of The Punisher in fans' minds. However, Bernthal recently shared why he initially declined to join the Disney+ revival Daredevil: Born Again.
The Wolf of Wall Street star explained his initial hesitation stemmed from creative differences regarding Frank Castle's direction in the project. "Ultimately, I didn't see it. I wasn't convinced by their vision for Frank – it didn't align with what makes the character compelling," Bernthal told Entertainment Weekly. "I felt it wouldn't satisfy fans or stay true to the character's essence. It wasn't a version I wanted to bring to life."
The situation changed after the series underwent significant creative restructuring following industry strikes. With Dario Scardapane taking over as showrunner – someone Bernthal had previously collaborated with on The Punisher series – the actor found a version of the character he could embrace.
"They genuinely included me in the creative process," Bernthal noted. "We had detailed discussions about Frank's mental state and physical condition to ensure an authentic portrayal."
Warning! Spoilers for Daredevil: Born Ahead.
