For several months, rumors have circulated that Marvel and Netflix were targeting Jon Bernthal’s Punisher for a spinoff series after his first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance in Daredevil season 2 next month. Back in January, a report surfaced that a greenlight for The Punisher series was imminent. But according to Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb, we shouldn’t expect the Punisher to go solo just yet.

“I think [the Punisher is] something that people are speculating on, as opposed to something that’s actually happening,” said Loeb during an interview with Digital Spy. “It’s certainly our hope that any of our characters will be embraced and that people want to see more of them.”

Either Marvel and Netflix are trying to play down the possibility of a Punisher spinoff series or it really isn’t happening at this time. That said, hiring an actor like Bernthal for the role definitely implies that both companies have bigger things in mind for the Punisher.

Loeb left himself a little leeway in his comments by not outright denying that a Punisher series is a possibility. Loeb also reiterated his claim that he was surprised by Netflix’s renewal of Jessica Jones for a second season.

“When they announced that Jessica Jones was getting a second season, every single report said, ‘It should come as a surprise to no one that Jessica Jones has received a second season order,’” related Loeb. “I’m the guy going, ‘Well, it was a surprise to me!’ It isn’t a given in television. The fact that we get to continue telling stories with these characters speaks a lot about the quality of the storytelling and the acting and the writing. We are telling the best stories that we can at Netflix, and they seem to be responding to it.”

Under the terms of Marvel TV’s original deal with Netflix, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist were supposed to get only 13 episodes each before the eight-part The Defenders miniseries brought them all together. The second seasons of Daredevil and Jessica Jones added 26 episodes to that order. If The Punisher is a possibility at Netflix, it may actually require a brand new deal with Marvel TV.

Daredevil season 2 will premiere on Friday, March 18.

Do you think the Punisher will get his own show on Netflix? Take aim in the comment section below!

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HT: Digital Spy

Image Credit: Marvel TV/Netflix