AMC Loews 34th Street housed the dynamic cast of “Marvel’s The Punisher” at its New York City premiere on Monday night.
The standalone Netflix series, spun off from “Marvel’s Daredevil,” follows former marine Frank Castle after he’s used his background in combat and weaponry to punish those responsible for killing his wife and two children. Still grief-stricken, Castle becomes a vigilante who discovers a grand conspiracy that extends past the New York City crime ring.
“We dive a lot deeper than [‘Daredevil’] had with Frank Castle,” showrunner and executive producer Steve Lightfoot said of the spin-off.
“This is a real piece about grief; it’s about pain,” said Jon Bernthal, who plays Castle, on the complex and conflicted nature of his character. “What we ask in the course of this season is ‘What do you do next? What do you do with the war inside, and how do you face that?’”
Marvel’s head of television and executive producer Jeph Loeb told Variety that Bernthal’s ability to portray this internal conflict on screen earned “The Punisher” an independent series. Loeb described the characterization of the titular role as “both intense and, at the same time, really quite extraordinary.”
“In terms of how vulnerable he can be, how human he can be, you really are on the edge of your seat,” Loeb added. “This is not a hero that bullets bounce off of, this a hero that bleeds, and that’s important to us.”
Post-screening, guests enjoyed Italian dishes, while Bernthal shared hugs and took photos with his cast mates, at the SECOND in the Eventi Hotel.
“Marvel’s The Punisher” streams Nov. 17 on Netflix.
(Pictured: Jon Bernthal at the premiere of “Marvel’s The Punisher” with his co-star, Deborah Ann Woll)
