Well, we all knew this was coming. As Disney prepares to launch their own streaming service called Disney+, and with them also set to take 60% ownership of the streaming service Hulu when their acquisition of Fox goes through, Netflix has been gradually cutting ties with them. Disney owns Marvel, which had multiple shows set up at Netflix, and Netflix has been cancelling them one after the other. Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, The Defenders, all done. Now Netflix has finished up with the cancellation of both Jessica Jones and the one Marvel / Netflix show we featured here on Arrow in the Head, The Punisher.
The Punisher star Jon Bernthal could read the writing on the wall. While doing press for the second season of the show, which was just released on Netflix on January 18th, he said he was prepared to get the news that the show had been cancelled. He told Variety,
I know the reality of the situation and I'm at peace with it. I really only worry about the things I can control. When I'm playing the character and I'm doing the job and it's right there in front of me, I do whatever I can to make it as good as I can. But in this business there's so much we can’t control. Whatever is happening with these shows, these decisions are being made in rooms I'm not invited into and I'm OK with that."
The decision has been made. The Punisher will not be getting a third season. Jessica Jones season 3 has already been filmed, and once that has been released on Netflix their partnership with Marvel will be over.
Netflix gave the following statement to Deadline:
Marvel's The Punisher will not return for a third season on Netflix. Showrunner Steve Lightfoot, the terrific crew, and exceptional cast including star Jon Bernthal, delivered an acclaimed and compelling series for fans, and we are proud to showcase their work on Netflix for years to come. … We are grateful to Marvel for five years of our fruitful partnership and thank the passionate fans who have followed these series from the beginning."
We may have seen the end of Bernthal's time as The Punisher, but then again this cancellation doesn't necessarily mean we won't see Bernthal play the character again someday. Hulu executive Craig Erwich has already expressed interest in reviving some of these Netflix / Marvel titles, and Jeph Loeb, Executive Vice President of Marvel Television, has said that he "would not be surprised" if some of the shows were to end up being revived, depending on the showrunners and cast availability. So there is some hope.
However, we'll have to wait a couple years to find out if The Punisher, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, or Jessica Jones will be coming back. Netflix's deal with Marvel included the stipulation that the characters would not be allowed to appear in any non-Netflix project for a full two years after the shows are cancelled.
So it looks like we'll have to wait until 2021 to find out what's next for The Punisher.