With the widespread acclaim that greeted the season 1 of Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix, it’s understandable that the upcoming second season carries with it an extremely high level of anticipation. Perhaps the biggest addition to Daredevil’s second Netflix outing is the character of Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher. This time played by The Walking Dead’s Jon Bernthal, Castle has been brought to cinematic life three times prior, only for each iteration to disappoint a large section of The Punisher fanbase. While viewers the world over wait to see whether the fourth time will be the charm, Netflix has seen fit to release a new short promo for Daredevil season 2 that serves to make clear The Punisher fears no man – not even The Man Without Fear.
Short and to the point, the promo above features Bernthal’s Punisher walking straight toward camera in what sounds like an NYC subway tunnel. In one hand, Castle holds a gigantic gun; in the other, Matt Murdock’s Daredevil mask.
While it’s been known for some time that the driving conflict for Daredevil season 2 would be Matt Murdock’s law-abiding superhero vs. Frank Castle’s take-no-prisoners vigilante, each new piece of promotional material has served to further drive home the stakes of this fight. Frank Castle will do absolutely anything to bring what he feels is justice to the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, and if that means he has to go through Matt Murdock’s red-suited alter ego then that’s just what he’ll (at least try to) do.
Of course, The Punisher isn’t the only potentially explosive addition to the mix of Daredevil season 2. Also joining the cast is Elektra Natchios (Elodie Yung), an ex of Matt’s that hides her own deadly secrets. Marvel fans will recall this isn’t Elektra’s first on-screen incarnation either, with the character having been played by Jennifer Garner in the 2003 Daredevil film and its 2005 spinoff movie Elektra. Needless to say, most hope that Netflix’s rendition of the sai-wielding assassin/conflicted Murdock love interest can serve to rejuvenate Elektra’s brand as well as it did Daredevil’s.
Hitting Netflix queues just one short week before DC blockbuster Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice arrives in theaters, Daredevil season 2 seeks to prove that the success of the series’ first season was more than just a fluke, and cement Marvel streaming properties as a viable platform for years to come. Will it succeed? At this point, it doesn’t seem wise to bet against Matt Murdock.
Daredevil season 1 and Jessica Jones season 1 are now available on Netflix. Daredevil season 2 will debut on Netflix on March 18th, 2016, followed by Luke Cage season 1 later in 2016. Release dates for Jessica Jones season 2, Iron Fist, and The Defenders on Netflix have not yet been announced. A Punisher spin-off is also in development.
Source: Netflix
