The television side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe officially kicked off with the premiere of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC in 2013, but it took another major step forward in early 2015 when the first season of Daredevil debuted on Netflix. The series introduced a gritty, street-level corner of the MCU that has since grown to include freshman seasons of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage as well as a second season of Daredevil. Next year, Netflix will unveil three new shows -- the first time the streaming service has debuted more than two seasons of Marvel series in one calendar year -- Iron Fist, Daredevil spinoff The Punisher, and the team-up miniseries The Defenders.

The Punisher began filming in early October, just before season 1 of Iron Fist wrapped, as Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb confirmed at this year's New York Comic Con. Jon Bernthal, who stars as Frank Castle aka The Punisher, appeared with Loeb on stage at NYCC and announced Daredevil actress Deborah Ann Woll, who plays Karen Page, will co-star in the upcoming Marvel Netflix series. Now, a new photo of The Punisher cast features Bernthal, Woll, and their co-stars.

Actor Daniel Webber, who portrays Lewis Walcott, posted a photo to Instagram of himself and his fellow The Punisher castmates. The image includes (left to right): Jason R. Moore, Michael Nathanson, Webber, Amber Rose Revah, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jaime Ray Newman, Bernthal, Woll, and Ben Barnes. Take a look:

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Bernthal first appeared as Frank Castle in season 2 of Daredevil, during which his character terrorized the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City while trying to avenge his murdered family. The brutal fight sequences, and Bernthal's compelling portrayal of Frank Castle, helped the character become a fan-favorite in Netflix's corner of the MCU -- which undoubtedly swayed the streaming service to give The Punisher a series order. Hannibal's Steve Lightfoot was announced as the showrunner on season 1 of The Punisher, which is expected to arrive at some point in 2017, though an official release date has yet to be revealed.

Although this first photo of The Punisher cast doesn't offer much insight of what viewers can expect from the show's first season -- and many of the cast members have previously been confirmed, either by Marvel or through set photos -- it does work as a tease for any fan eagerly anticipating the show's premiere. Marvel has previously assembled exceptionally talented casts full of largely unknown actors for their Netflix series, and it's likely fans can expect more of the same from The Punisher. Of course, whether The Punisher keeps up Marvel and Netflix's streak of critically acclaimed series remains to be seen, but viewers will get a chance to see for themselves once the show debuts next year.

Next: Jon Bernthal Wears The Punisher Comic T-Shirt

Daredevil seasons 1 & 2, Jessica Jones season 1, and Luke Cage season 1 are available now on Netflix. Iron Fist season 1 arrives on March 17, 2017. The Defenders and The Punisher debut at some point in 2017. Premiere dates for the newest seasons of Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Luke Cage have not yet been announced.

Source: Daniel Webber/Instagram