Following on from its successful first season, The Punisher returns to Netflix for season 2. The show picks up with Frank Castle (John Bernthal), the former U.S. Marine who now operates as the anti-hero named The Punisher, killing criminals in the name of justice. Frank may be a loner, but he still has a few connections in Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll),  who will be back along with the (presumed) return of Punisher's techie partner, Micro, AKA David Lieberman (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Still grieving the loss of his wife and daughter in a brutal killing, Frank Castle runs on bitterness, hatred and a need for revenge, but the character also has a more vulnerable side.

  • Release Date: Not yet known
  • Cast: Jon Bernthal, Deborah Ann Woll, Giorgia Whigham, Josh Stewart, Floriana Lima
  • Directors: To be announced
  • Writers: Steve Lightfoot, more to be announced

Key Cast Members Return for Season 2

Jon Bernthal will return as Frank Castle for The Punisher season 2, along with Deborah Ann Woll who will reprise her Marvel TV role of Karen Page. It's also assumed (though not confirmed) that Ebon Moss-Bachrach will be back as Microchip, especially since he proved popular with fans during season one. Billy Russo, now Jigsaw, has been spotted on set, but he's not expected to play the role of the main villain villain again for season 2 since Marvel usually changes up villains each season, but given that he was set up as Jigsaw at the end of season one, some sort of presence is to be expected (at least in a small capacity, a la Kingpin in Daredevil season 2). That means we might also see Amber Rose Revah back as Dinah Madani, but again, that's not confirmed.

Three New Characters are Joining the Cast

Floriana Lima as Maggie from Supergirl

The Punisher season 2 has added 3 new cast members, and there's likely to be more announcements as filming progresses. Josh Stewart (Shooter) will play John Pilgrim, a man who has moved on from a violent past. According to the official description of his character, “circumstances will force him to use his old skills and bring him into Frank Castle’s world.” Giorga Wigham (13 Reasons Why) joins the cast as Amy Bendix, “a street-smart grifter with a mysterious past," and Floriana Lima (Supergirl) will play Krista Dumont, “a smart, compassionate, and driven psychotherapist for military veterans.”  The character descriptions hint at them all tying into Marvel's 'The Slavers' storyline, but that's not confirmed.

While they're not strictly new characters, Bernthal has stated that he'd like Daredevil and Jessica Jones to appear in The Punisher season 2. It's not out of the question, but probably more wishful thinking than anything, although Punisher already has strong ties to Daredevil, since that's where he was introduced, and Karen Page, a Daredevil character (and on-again-off-again Matt Murdock love interest), is a part of Punisher.

Read More: Jon Bernthal Wants Daredevil and Jessica Jones in The Punisher Season 2

Season One Told A Brutal and Emotional Story

Frank Castle sits at a table with a drink in The Punisher

Frank Castle made his debut in Daredevil as an ex-marine seeking revenge on those who killed his wife and daughter. The Punisher picked up with him after those events, when he's still trying to hunt down those who are responsible, and killing indiscriminately as he does so. Frank discovers betrayal at every turn; the black-ops unit he served in was funded by an underground drugs ring, while those he was closest to during his time in active service, are ultimately revealed to have been involved with the murder of Frank's beloved family.

The news devastates and also angers Castle, and, as The Punisher, he faces a final showdown with his longtime friend and former service colleague, Billy Russo. Eventually, he grinds Russo's face into a mirror, unwittingly setting him up to one day become Jigsaw. Both Frank and Microchip were exonerated by the authorities because of the part they played in catching Russo, and the finale of The Punisher saw Frank struggling to cope with his new found freedom and how to live a life away from active duty and without gunfire. While it was definitely a good thing to see Frank getting help, it's doubtful he'll be able to stay away from killing for long.

Season 2 Is Likely to Have a New Villain

Ben Barnes in The Punisher

Plot details for The Punisher season 2 are being kept tightly under wraps, in keeping with all Marvel shows. That said, showrunner Steve Lightfoot has spoken about what villains he'd like to see in the future, saying that he thinks O'Brien, from 'Punisher Max' is a lot of fun, and he also enjoys Barracuda (again from 'Punisher Max'). His comments also align with Bernthal's views; he's already stated that he'd like to see Barracuda on the show.

However, character descriptions released for season 2 castings seem to hint at The Punisher season 2 possibly following the 'Suicide Run' storyline, which sees Frank leaving New York to recover from a near-death experience in a small town under the watchful eye of the town Sheriff. Equally, the three new castings we already know about hint at the show following 'The Slavers' storyline, so honestly it's anyone's guess right now.

Read More: The Punisher Season 2 Character Descriptions Offer Story Hints

There is no Official Premiere Date Set for The Punisher Season 2

Right now, there's not a date set by Netflix for The Punisher season 2 to air. However, their Marvel shows usually follow a pretty similar release pattern of every 2 years, so it seems reasonable to expect The Punisher in 2019. Filming has already started in New York. The last season was supposed to have a surprise reveal in October 2017, but was delayed after a major shooting in Las Vegas.

Who's Directing The Punisher Season 2?

Jon Bernthal as the Punisher in Daredevil Season 2

 

There are no directors names released for The Punisher season 2 yet, but Steve Lightfoot has returned as showrunner. We'll update this section with the directors' names when they're announced.

The Punisher Season 2 is Likely to Have a Team of Writers

There are no writers confirmed for The Punisher season 2 yet, but it's likely to be a similar team that joined Lightfoot for season one. Those names included Ross Andru, Ken Kristensen, and Angela LaManna. When season 2 writers are confirmed, we'll update this page.

There is no Trailer for The Punisher Season 2 Yet

Marvel The Punisher Poster

We'll update this page as soon as a trailer is released.

There is no Poster for The Punisher Season 2 Yet

We'll update this page as soon as a poster is released.

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