Netflix has built an intense and action-packed superhero world on the small screen, with some of the most fascinating characters of Marvel Comics fame. We already have Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist making up a new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a series all about Frank Castle as the Punisher in the works. Only a handful of characters from these shows have crossed over so far, but The Defenders in August will change all that. Now, Marvel legend Stan Lee has teamed up with Netflix for a new Defenders promo, and it features a surprise appearance from Jon Bernthal as the Punisher. Check it out!
Admittedly, a lot of the footage in this new promo simply comes from seasons of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist that have already aired, but Stan Lee's narration reminds us that these characters are more than just heroes with superpowers. Even though they're heroes, they're still human, and they have the same weaknesses and strengths that make us all human. Stan Lee's narration seems to indicate that these heroes will complement each other in ways that help them save the day as a unit in The Defenders.
What I take away from the promo is that The Defenders might actually be totally awesome, these characters have similarities as well as their obvious differences, and I totally want to go on a car ride with Stan Lee and listen to him talk about superheroes. Of course, the cameo appearance from Jon Bernthal as the Punisher is kind of a big deal as well. After all, we've only seen Bernthal as Frank Castle in Daredevil Season 2 to date, and it was never confirmed whether he would or would not appear in The Defenders.
The promo with Stan Lee doesn't definitively point toward the Punisher in The Defenders -- it could be footage from the upcoming Punisher series -- but it does indicate that he may in fact appear in The Defenders. Frank's one line of "Looks like I got here just in time!" could be hinting that he'll turn up to assist the Defenders at a key moment. He could definitely be useful, as he's willing to cross lines that the others might not.
We'll have to wait and see. As Jon Bernthal has said, Frank wasn't quite the Punisher yet in Daredevil Season 2. He's wearing the iconic Punisher emblem in the new Netflix video; perhaps The Defenders will mark his big debut in the Punisher persona, ahead of the premiere of his solo series, which could be sooner than we expected. The Defenders will premiere on Friday, August 18 at 12:01 a.m. PT on Netflix. Check out our summer TV premiere schedule to discover your other viewing options, and our Netflix guidefor your streaming options. Our breakdown of what we know so far about The Defenders is worth a look as well.
