Jon Bernthal’s Punisher Faces New Marvel Villain in Epic MCU Return

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As a passionate film enthusiast, it seems like Frank Castle, the relentless avenger, might be locking his sights on a new adversary. Having mercilessly targeted the gangs of Hell’s Kitchen and drug lord Blacksmith (Clancy Brown) in Marvel’s Daredevil season 2, then corrupt CIA Director William Rawlins (Paul Schulze) and the scarred Jigsaw (Ben Barnes) in The Punisher, Castle is now joining forces with his old ally “Red” – Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox). Together, they’re taking on Mayor Fisk’s Anti Vigilante Task Force in Daredevil: Born Again.

As a movie enthusiast, I eagerly watched the finale of Daredevil’s comeback season, only to be treated with a post-credits scene hinting at the upcoming TV special of The Punisher, as announced by Marvel Studios. However, details about the plot are as tight-lipped as a bulletproof vest! But recently, thanks to Daniel Richtman’s leak, we learned that Marvel is on the hunt for an actress to bring a “female crime boss villain” to life.

In the story “Marvel Knights: The Punisher” issue 4, the main antagonist of the Punisher, particularly in the comics, is Ma Gnucci. She’s not just any villain; she’s a wheelchair-bound woman who has lost all four limbs. Once the matriarch of the Gnucci crime family, her ruthless nature was legendary. Unfortunately, in this specific tale, Ma, accompanied by her Gnucci soldiers, pursued Castle into the polar bear enclosure at Central Park Zoo, leading to a tragic end for her when she was fatally attacked.

In 2000, a character named Ma Gnucci, whose real name is Isabella Carmela Magdalena Gnucci, was introduced in a comic book series written by Garth Ennis. Tragically, her sons “Sticky” Eddie, Bobbie, and Carlo, as well as her brother Dino “Uncle D”, were killed by the Punisher. This led Ma to seek vengeance, initially offering a $10 million reward for the Punisher’s capture. However, the story concludes with a dramatic turn of events – the Punisher sets fire to Ma’s house after dousing it with gasoline.

In the six-issue “Resurrection of Mother Gnucci” storyline within Ennis’ “Punisher: War Zone”, it appears that the mafia matriarch reappeared. She claimed to have emerged from the depths of Hell. However, Frank dispatched her once more, this time using a bazooka, but she refused to stay deceased. It was later revealed these were fake bodies created by the masked avenger called Elite to torment the Punisher. He stated, “I send them to the afterlife. I rest peacefully.

In the initial volume of “Punisher: War Zone” by Chuck Dixon and John Romita Jr., there’s a character named Rosalie Carbone, a figure connected to the Carbone crime clan. She’s the daughter of mobster Julius Carbone, who orchestrated her marriage with a capo’s son from their old homeland as a means to strengthen their families through blood ties. Frank managed to win over Rosalie to gain access to the inner circle of the Carbones. When Frank took down and eliminated the entire family, Rosalie took charge of the surviving members and ordered a hit on her former lover, Frank.

In the 1996’s fifth issue of Punisher, penned by Jon Ostrander, there was a gathering among some New York criminal clans. During this meeting, Rosalie attempted to have Frank and her rival families eliminated. Much like other adversaries of Frank, Rosalie ended up receiving a bullet and perished.

Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation, referred to the upcoming “The Punisher” special as a powerfully intense narrative, packed with the deep feelings and emotional depth you’d expect from a Frank Castle tale. Bernthal collaborated on writing this special presentation with Reinaldo Marcus Green, who directed Bernthal in the HBO series “We Own This City,” and is responsible for directing the special itself.

Winderbaum commented, “Bernthal truly embodies the essence of a multi-generational actor. His talent shines in every role he takes on, but it’s his portrayal of Frank Castle that stands out. He has an intimate understanding of the character and… I must admit, I’m a huge fan of The Punisher, but I hold Bernthal’s version in high regard. The prospect of him being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and enriching it with his interpretation, especially for the more realistic street-level stories, is a remarkable opportunity and, as a fan, an absolute dream come true.

2026 will see the broadcast of a special edition of “The Punisher” series, while season 2 of “Daredevil: Born Again” is scheduled to debut on Disney+ in March.

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2025-05-22 04:46