Microchip & more cast in the new Punisher series from Netflix

October 6th 2016, 5:11pm

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The Punisher is a hero that I seem to love more in theory than in execution, alongside other "dark" and "badass" heroes like Ghost Rider and Spawn. While I love the edginess and coolness of these characters, I've always been disappointed by their respective films, and a lot of their comics. However, there is hope! I really enjoyed HBO's animated SPAWN series, Ghost Rider is getting a third chance on AGENTS OF SHIELD, and they finally seem to have cracked The Punisher on Netflix's DAREDEVIL series. What I'm saying is, maybe TV is where these guys belong! (Though that Ghost Rider…eesh…)

Anyway, due to his popularity on season 2 of DAREDEVIL, Punisher is now getting his own spin-off Netflix series, which is good news to those who enjoyed Jon Bernthal's Travis Bickle-esque take on the character. Casting has begun for the show, and we now know who will be playing Punisher's long-suffering ally Microchip (originally played by Wayne Knight in PUNISHER: WAR ZONE), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (GIRLS). Microchip (referred to as "Micro") is described by the official Marvel site as:

a former NSA analyst whose secrets may be of great value to Frank Castle and everyone around them.

I just hope Micro has his creeper van in tow. Moss-Bchrach joins previously cast Ben Barnes, who is now revealed to be:

Billy Russo, Frank’s Castle’s best friend from his days in the Special Forces. He runs a successful private military corporation called “Anvil.”

Anyone who's familiar with Marvel comics knows that Billy Russo will one day turn into one of Punisher's only recurring villains (since he, you know, doesn't usually keep them alive) Jigsaw. Though it seems they've changed his origin up quite a bit. I wonder if we'll even see him be Jigsaw in the series itself.

The last cast member revealed is Amber Rose Revah as Dinah Madani, who seems to be an original character created specifically for the series, and is:

a highly-trained sophisticated Homeland Security agent who is vexed by the Punisher.

This all sounds pretty cool. Like I said, I've always loved the idea of Punisher, and am delighted that I might enjoy watching something he's in for a change. While I really liked Thomas Jane's portrayal of Frank Castle in the 2004 film, I thought the movie itself was boring and never really gelled (besides a few nice set-pieces, like his fight with The Russian). I also enjoyed Ray Stevenson in the pseudo-sequel WAR ZONE, though that one was too campy for my tastes (but at least more fun).

Anyway, THE PUNISHER will be streaming on Netflix sometime in 2017.

So what do you guys think? And who do you think played the best Punisher?