The Punisher Non-News That Everybody Is Talking About
It’s not news that Marvel have regained the movie rights to The Punisher - they’ve already released one film with the character, in the form of Lexi Alexander’s Punisher: War Zone. They’ve clearly had the rights back a while.
And it’s barely notewworthy that Kevin Feige said yesterday, at the Marvel movies panel, that “Frank Castle is under the roof of Marvel Studios now and we hope to bring him into the fray shortly” because, frankly (pun intended) that was the default answer to any question about the character. Listen to him: Hope. Shortly. His statement is made of cotton candy.
I wouldn’t expect another big-screen reboot any time soon, though a TV show through Marvel Studios’ TV deal with ABC could be a possibility. Most of all, though, I’d imagine he’s more likely to pop up as a cameo or supporting character role in another Marvel project. “Into the fray” would seem to support this too, if only lightly.
But where, exactly, could he show up? Nowhere this side of The Avengers, I’m sure.
I’m betting it’s at least five more years and four more puff-of-air Comic-Con quotes before The Punisher is heading back to cinemas again.