It’s starting to look like Marvel TV is indeed moving forward with the production of their Punisher series, as audition tapes have surfaced giving the impression the show is already casting major roles.
Jon Bernthal would be returning to the role in the solo series with Hannibal‘s Steve Lightfoot heading it up as showrunner. The end of Daredevil season two confirmed the addition of Frank Castle’s arms dealer Microchip as key figure in the solo series.
Actor Peter Hulne‘s (Elf, Anchorman, American Body Shop) audition tape for the role of Dennis Landstrom spotted on Vimeo via ComicBookMovie. According to an earlier report from MCU Exchange, Landstrom is the codename for Punisher supporting character Micro aka David Lieberman, this tape seemingly confirms that Dennis is actually David.
https://vimeo.com/177129467
Two other auditions tapes for an unnamed Washington suit role, one clearly labeled “Punisher” were also spotted by CBM. This could also be hinting to more flashbacks to Frank’s time in the military.
Here’s True Detective actor James Frain‘s (Gotham, Orphan Black, Agent Carter, The Lone Ranger, True Blood) auditioning for this unnamed role.
https://vimeo.com/179517578
This unnamed character from Washington refers to a Lt. Fred Collins, who is speaking off camera and we’ve come to learn that Fred Collins is actually Frank Castle.
I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if this role is CIA Agent William Rawlins.
Here’s a little background on Rawlins.
A CIA agent who set up a terrorist cell in Riyadh on the orders of a rogue group of US Army & US Air Force generals, later used as a distraction while Castle and a Delta Force operator infiltrated a Russian missile silo to retrieve a virus sample. He is also one of Kathryn O’Brien’s ex-husbands, and on their honeymoon pushed her out of a helicopter into the hands of the Taliban to protect a shipment of heroin. He is later assigned by the generals to organize the death of Castle with Nicky Cavella, who he had an intimate relationship with. He is later kidnapped by O’Brien and Castle, where he is tortured by Castle to find out information about the rogue generals, which is taped. During the torture session he lost an eye. He later escapes and sells his information of the terrorist attack on Russia to the Russian military, since he has become persona non grata to the CIA and needed protection. He later betrays the Russians for his own ulterior gains. Before he is finally able to escape and disappear, he is murdered by Castle in the men’s restroom of Kabul International Airport.
It’s possible if they are indeed casting for Punisher roles already, a series going into production soon isn’t out of the question. A curious thing if the show shoots alongside Defenders, will it be shot elsewhere outside of New York?
Marvel TV already has crews setup in California via series like Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., also using studio space in Atlanta wouldn’t be shocking either as plenty of shows are now shot there.
This Punisher series could be airing on Netflix in 2017, via a possible leaked release date from a Netflix app, but it’s not concrete information at this point. Neither Netflix or Marvel TV have confirmed a production start date or it’s release date.
SOURCE: VIMEO