The Punisher is a character that had been badly maligned in the hands of other studios.  Marvel managed to fix him in about an episode and a half of season two of Daredevil.  Jon Bernthal brought Frank Castle to life in a way that made his actions logical in his mind and humanized a character that’s easy to dismiss.  My favorite episode of Daredevil thus far is 2.03 when Frank and Matt have their rooftop debate as to the ethics of vigilante justice leading into the greatest fight scene in TV history (which you can see here)

Marvel has said in the past that it wants to keep the number of Netflix series at four.  There’s no announcement date on the very awesome teaser released today, but it likely will take place after The Defenders.  Jessica Jones has already been renewed (and won a Peabody Award). A third season of Daredevil seems inevitable given the set-up for one in season two.  I think post-Defenders that Luke Cage & Iron Fist will probably be combined (maybe even with Jessica Jones) for their traditional Heroes for Hire team-up.  Jones, Cage, and Iron Fist’s storylines in the comics have traditionally intersected, so it seems logical.  That would leave room for The Punisher and perhaps another series to debut.  Read below for Coming Soon’s take on the announcement.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Netflix was developing a Punisher spin-off, set to focus on Jon Bernthal’s gun-toting vigilante from Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2. The report was met with caution from Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb, but now Marvel and Netflix have made it official! 

Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Frank Castle in the series with Hannibal executive producer Steve Lightfoot set to serve as the series’ showrunner. 

“We want to thank the fans who are clamoring for more of Jon’s stunning and powerful performance as Frank Castle from ‘Marvel’s Daredevil,’” said Executive Producer/Head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb. “Now combined with Showrunner Steve Lightfoot’s compelling writing, we’re thrilled to bring ‘Marvel’s The Punisher’ to Netflix.”

“Jon hooked our global audience with his performance as Frank Castle from the moment he stepped on screen in ‘Marvel’s Daredevil,’ and we are looking forward to seeing more of him in this role under the vision of Steve Lightfoot,” said Cindy Holland, Netflix Vice President of Original Content.

“For me, the complexity and unpredictability of Frank Castle make him an incredibly compelling character and I couldn’t be more excited to dive into his world,” said Executive Producer and Showrunner, Steve Lightfoot. “After watching Jon’s performance in ‘Marvel’s Daredevil’ I could not be more excited to be working with him to further develop and progress the story of this anti-hero in a show of his own.”

The collaboration between Marvel Entertainment and Netflix has already produced two seasons ofMarvel’s Daredevil and the very well-received first season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, of which a second season has also been ordered. Marvel’s Luke Cage will premiere on the streaming service this September with Marvel’s Iron Fist currently in production and the culminating event, Marvel’s The Defenders, set to begin production at the end of the year. It’s unclear whenThe Punisher spin-off series would begin production or premiere, though it’s likely that it will arrive after The Defenders mini-series.