Jon Bernthal says there is still a chance The Punisher season 3 will happen despite the show's untimely cancellation. When Marvel began producing shows for Netflix, the plan was simple: four shows centered on individual characters, all of whom would assemble for The Defenders further down the line. However, The Punisher proved to be the one outlier. Bernthal joined Daredevil in the second season as Frank Castle, a veteran-turned-vigilante out to kill those who hurt his family. His performance was so well-received, Netflix greenlit a spin-off centered solely on Castle. The Punisher first premiered in 2017, with a second season arriving in early 2019.

Despite positive reviews from fans and critics, The Punisher was unable to avoid the cancellation spree caused by Marvel's internal restructuring. The Punisher was officially axed a month after its second season premiered, along with Jessica Jones. Marvel Television, which created all of the Netflix shows, was absorbed by Marvel Studios in the months following, signaling the start of a new television strategy for the brand. Though Marvel is moving forward with Disney+ shows set within the MCU, some fans still wish to see characters from the Netflix programs get new life, including the Punisher.

Related: Floriana Lima's Dumont Was Punisher Season 2's Most Complex Villain

In a new interview with Geek House Show, Bernthal entertained the idea of a Punisher season 3. While Berthal couldn't definitively say whether it would ever happen, he certainly expressed his interest in having it come to fruition, particularly because he's so fond of the character. "There's always hope," Bernthal said with a grin. Bernthal then went on to say this:

It's unbelievably humbling how much people sort of responded to this version of Frank, and I can't tell you how much it means to me because he means so much to me. He's in my blood, he's in my bones... So it's not about whether we do it, it's about getting it right, and doing the version that the fans really deserve. We'll see. I mean, all of those decisions are made in rooms I am not invited into... But Frank's always there, he's always a part of me. And when we get the call to go, I'll be ready, and I'll make sure that I do everything I can to make sure that we do it right, or we won't do it at all.

Punisher Netflix Jon Bernthal

The Punisher season 2 concluded with Castle finally accepting his role as the Punisher after several episodes of trying to resist the pull. Though one could argue this completed Castle's arc, many wanted to actually see where his story went next. The Punisher could've delved into the consequences of Castle fully stepping into his vigilante persona. Beyond that, it was said there was a story in place for The Punisher season 3, and though it isn't clear exactly what it would have been, fans wanted to find out.

Sadly, though, it remains to be seen if Bernthal's Punisher will ever get a second life. Marvel can't quite revive the character just yet, but with their carefully structured plans for the future, there might not even be a place for Castle. If Marvel was willing to do so, they could give The Punisher season 3 to a new streaming service (Hulu, perhaps?) to continue Castle's story in a way separate from the MCU. That would probably make fans the happiest, but there is no guarantee that will actually happen. All fans have right now is the hope that it could be possible someday, as Bernthal said.

More: How All Of Netflix's Marvel Shows Ended (& What Would Have Happened Next)

Source: Geek House Show