The fourth episode of Daredevil: Born Again has been released, and it is safe to say that it is one of the strongest episodes thus far. After the untimely death of the White Tiger at the hands of corrupt police officers, Matt seeks the help of an old friend. The friend is none other than Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle, and the fandom erupted with joy to see these two crime fighters exchange dialogue once more. However, this reunion was at risk before the creative overhaul, and Bernthal has a few words to say about that version.
The Creative Overhaul Saved the Most Anticipated Reunion in Daredevil: Born Again
After the tragic death of Hector Ayala, Matt went out of his way to identify his killer’s identity. Matt’s investigation led him to an old friend who isn’t too keen on having unannounced visitors. Frank is still on edge and has been through a lot since we last saw him in his series over at Netflix. After the episode aired, an interview with Bernthal shed new light on his character’s role and how he almost didn’t return due to creative differences.
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 is no secret that Marvel Studios ordered a creative overhaul of Daredevil: Born Again and made a few necessary changes. This overhaul brought back older cast members from the Netflix series to prove that the previous seasons are canon to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bernthal was adamant that his version of the Punisher must feel the same that fans can tell it is familiar and a continuation, not a variation.
It was not something I was really interested in doing. So we had to walk away.
Fortunately, the creative overhaul allowed Bernthal’s vision for the character to shine and the current showrunners agreed this was for the best. It is rare to see actors put their foot on the ground for a character and project they are passionate about, and it is a testament to how much the cast values the work they established in the past few years.
The Punisher Is Back and Better Than Ever
While Frank’s appearance in episode four of Daredevil: Born Again was a welcome treat, we will still see him in future episodes suited up alongside Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. It has also been confirmed that the Punisher will star in an upcoming Special Presentation. These are smaller projects like Werewolf by Midnight and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
The creative overhaul was a wake-up call to the executives that the fans are as protective as the cast and crew. The previous seasons may have existed outside the larger continuity, but this is a chance to prove that everything is connected and that there are more stories to tell.
Daredevil and the Punisher are probably the best parts of the Defenders Saga, and to see these two heroes return and be acknowledged is a massive win for fans. Marvel Studios seems to be on board with whatever tone or direction these actors have in mind for their respective roles, which could lead to better things.
For more Thumb Wars TV and Film coverage, check out our take on why the most obvious death in Daredevil: Born Again rocked the fandom, or how HBO could change a few key moments in The Last of Us Season 2.
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Rouvin Josef Quirimit is a Content Writer, an avid gamer (on his PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch), and film enthusiast. He was fortunate to grow up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was enamored by the storytelling of a shared universe full of heart and spectacle. His love for movies led him to great single-player games and he intends to cover major franchises for years to come!
