Vigilante fights war that rages inside him

Veterans relate to Punisher role, Bernthal says

As Jon Bernthal began preparing to shoot the first season of The Punisher (now streaming on Netflix), he noted the textured approach that writer-producer/ writer Steve Lightfoot was taking to depict Frank Castle, otherwise known as Marvel’s most lethal vigilante.

When Bernthal debuted as the Punisher last year during the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil, he said Castle could retain an air of mystery as a side character, largely because the show was focused on the title superhero, as played by Charlie Cox.

Now, though, The Punisher “really shines a light on (Castle) and explores different sides of his personality,” Bernthal says.

“I think there’s something really fitting about Frank being on his own,” he says.

Lightfoot and his writing team wanted to show Castle’s difficulty with coping with life, Bernthal says. “They really wanted to create a well-rounded, three-dimensional character versus this guy who sort of just lives in the shadows. What does he do when you bring him into the light.”

Part of what makes Castle compelling are his thoughts when he’s

When the mission ends, it’s the quiet afterwards. It’s going to sleep. It’s returning home.

not in action: What gnaws at him when he believes his war against corruption (which contributed to the murder of his family) has ended? “What do you do when you put that skull down,” Bernthal says, “and you go back to living your life?”

Bernthal has talked with combat veterans about how they handle the brutality of war. And he’s built a bond with many in the military who are fans of his portrayal. They especially like how he conveys the character’s sense of loss and the symptoms of PTSD.

“One thing I’ve heard from a lot of people who have gone through severe trauma in combat is that, when the fight’s on, and when you’re on mission, your training kicks in and you know exactly what you’re doing and you’re moving forward,” Bernthal says. “But it’s when the mission ends, it’s the quiet afterwards. It’s going to sleep. It’s returning home. That’s when the war inside begins.”

Netflix and Marvel had planned to debut The Punisher earlier this fall. But after the recent shooting incidents in Las Vegas and Texas, they decided to cancel their appearance at New York Comic Con and postpone the release of the series out of respect for those connected to the tragedies.

“What happened in Texas and what happened in Las Vegas weighs on me, period,” Bernthal says.

“It weighs on me as a father. It weighs on me as an American. It weighs on me as a man.”

Bernthal says he hopes his show can be a part of a requisite conversation about gun control in the United States.

“As far as the show is concerned,” he says, “I think art at its absolute best holds a narrative to society and begs society to start asking questions of itself.

“I don’t think it’s our place to answer those questions. I think it’s our place to ask them.”