<P> By January 2016, ahead of the Daredevil season two release, Netflix was in "very early development" on a spin - off series titled The Punisher, and was looking for a showrunner . The series would be centered on Bernthal as Castle, and was described as a stand - alone series, outside of the series leading up to Marvel's The Defenders . Head of Marvel Television and executive producer Jeph Loeb implied that Marvel Television had not instigated the development of the spin - off and were focusing on making "the best 13 episodes of Daredevil season two" at the time, but did say, "I'm never going to discourage a network from looking at one of our characters and encouraging us to do more...If we are lucky enough that through the writing, through the direction, through the actor that people want to see more of that person, terrific ." Loeb stated a month later that the reports about the potential spin - off were "something that people are speculating on, as opposed to something that's actually happening ." </P> <P> In April 2016, Netflix officially ordered a full 13 episode season of The Punisher, confirmed Bernthal's involvement, and named Steve Lightfoot as executive producer and showrunner . Loeb, Cindy Holland, and Jim Chory also serve as executive producers . A second season was ordered in December 2017 . </P> <P> Lightfoot noted that "anti-heroes with dark pasts, that are morally grey, are always interesting to write ." On deciding to work on The Punisher, Lightfoot stated, "I was drawn to a guy who is dealing with grief--how does he do that?...We talked a lot as we developed the show that once you take hold of the hand of violence it's impossible to let it go . That relationship to violence really interested me, not just the fact he has the ability to use it but also the cost of it ." Lightfoot was inspired by the Bourne film series and the film American Sniper when approaching the series . </P> <P> Bernthal had been cast as Castle in June 2015 to appear in the second season of Daredevil, and was confirmed to be reprising the role for the spin - off in April 2016 . That September, Ben Barnes was cast in the series in an unspecified series regular role . The next month, set photos revealed that Deborah Ann Woll would reprise her Daredevil role as Karen Page, Barnes was announced as playing Billy Russo, while Ebon Moss - Bachrach and Amber Rose Revah also joined the series, as David Lieberman / Micro and Dinah Madani, respectively . At New York Comic Con, Bernthal confirmed Woll as a co-star . At the end of October, Marvel announced the additional casting of Daniel Webber as Lewis Wilson, Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle, Paul Schulze as William Rawlins, Jaime Ray Newman as Sarah Lieberman, and Michael Nathanson as Sam Stein . </P>

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