Ever since Netflix's 2015 series, Charlie Cox's Daredevil feels incomplete without Jon Bernthal's Punisher. However, Bernthal recently disclosed why he initially declined to join Disney+'s revival series Daredevil: Born Again.

The Wolf of Wall Street star explained his initial hesitation stemmed from creative differences regarding Frank Castle's portrayal:

"Ultimately, the creative vision they presented for Frank didn't resonate with me," Bernthal told Entertainment Weekly. "Their proposed direction felt disconnected from what fans expect and what makes the character authentic. It wasn't a version I wanted to portray."

Following significant production changes after industry strikes – including new showrunner Dario Scardapane's arrival – Bernthal reconsidered his involvement:

"They genuinely involved me in shaping Frank's journey," Bernthal said of collaborating with Scardapane (his Punisher showrunner) and Marvel. "We thoroughly explored Frank's psychological and physical state for this new chapter."

***Warning!** Spoilers for Daredevil: Born Ahead.*