Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Punisher: One Last Kill
Key Highlights
- Collider’s Steve Weintraub interviews Reinaldo Marcus Green about The Punisher: One Last Kill.
- The director shares insights on collaborating with Jon Bernthal for Frank Castle’s impactful return to the Marvel Universe.
- He discusses the 11-day filming schedule, Bernthal’s stunts, the Marvel Special Presentation format, and the introduction of Ma Gnucci to the MCU.
Almost a decade since its finale on Netflix, Marvel brought back fan favorite Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) for Daredevil: Born Again, presenting the Disney+ series an opportunity to resurrect yet another beloved onscreen character with Jon Bernthal’s anti-hero Frank Castle/The Punisher. Since his own Netflix series was cut short in 2018, fans have felt Castle’s absence, though maybe none so much as The Punisher himself. “He’s lived with the character,” Reinaldo Marcus Green, director of The Punisher: One Last Kill, tells Collider’s Steve Weintraub. “He had been working on this for a good long while.”
After a brief appearance in Born Again and a surprise cameo announced for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Frank Castle is once again donning the bulletproof vest for One Last Kill, marking the third of Marvel’s Special Presentations, a short-format adventure that kicked off with the critically acclaimed <em>Werewolf by Night</em>. In the 44-minute one-shot, co-written by Bernthal and Green, Castle is haunted by his past, struggling to find purpose beyond his obsession with revenge, when an unexpected foe lures him back into the fold. One Last Kill also brings back Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle and introduces Emmy Award winner Judith Light to the MCU as supervillain Ma Gnucci (“She’s different than the comic, in a good way”).
One thing’s for sure: fans are thrilled by the Punisher’s return, but hungry for more. While talking with Collider, which you can watch in the video above or read below, Green discusses Bernthal first approaching him with the idea and the merits of returning to screen with a Marvel special. “Hopefully, that is a way for them to gauge audience reactions, what they want, and demand for the character,” Green says. “And give us more runway to do something bigger and better in the future.” He shares behind-the-scenes details for their 11-day shoot, working with the limitations, where on the MCU timeline One Last Kill falls, and what introducing Ma Gnucci ultimately means for the fate of Castle. As for now, however, the director admits, “We’re not sure where the Punisher goes.”
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Director Reinaldo Marcus Green also shares new details on Southern Bastards.
Image via Disney+
COLLIDER: Before we jump into The Punisher, I know you directed the pilot of Southern Bastards, so what do you want to tell people about that, and any word on whether it might go forward?
REINALDO MARCUS GREEN: Amazing cast. We just wrapped on Thursday, so it’s in Hulu’s hands. I head out to LA for the edit next week. So, yeah, early days, but I feel very, very strong. We’ve got great material, Kevin Bacon, Erin Kellyman, Tim McGraw, Amin Joseph, Jonathan Tucker, and Ethan Suplee. Amazing cast, really. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Tremendous cast. Great setting, great comic book. If you don’t know it, it’s based on a graphic novel. So, just really a lot of fun. I’m really happy about that one, so we’ll see. I’m optimistic we’ll have a future life there.
Yeah, with that cast. Congrats. I hope it does get picked up. So, I’ve got to ask the most important question. Why do you think it is Marvel doesn’t do more one-shots? Because they’re two for two now, including what you guys made.
GREEN: I don’t know. Maybe they will start doing them. I think, like you said, they’re fun. For me, it was like dropping a single on an album, you know? It’s just fun to be able to approach it with that respect, giving the audience something that they want. It was really a lot of fun for us, so I hope they do more, and I hope this is an inspiration for that.
What do you think the one-shot, 50-minute format is able to accomplish that the two-hour movie or the 8–10 episode season isn’t?
GREEN: I think it’s a toe-dip. For people who are afraid to go on a long commitment, they can start with 50 minutes. For folks that don’t know anything about the Punisher, who will be introduced to the character with this one, I think it’s, “Oh, I really like this guy. I really enjoyed that ride. Is there more?” So, it’s a short commitment, for sure. It’s a cinematic experience in a fun, digestible way, and hopefully leaves you wanting more.
So, if we’ve done our job right,<strong hopefully there'll be future Punisher in whatever form—whether it's film or TV—whatever route that they want to go. We know that he's going to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but after that we’re not sure where the Punisher goes; however hopefully that is a way for them to gauge audience reactions about what they want and demand for the character and give us more runway to do something bigger and better in the future.
Image via Disney+
You’ve worked with Jon [Bernthal] previously obviously. At what point did you two actually start talking Punisher and possibilities? How does it correlate with mentioning it to Marvel? Were you guys talking about doing something and then going to Marvel? What’s the timeline?
GREEN: I think Jon has been talking about this for a lot longer than I have. He’s lived with the character. He’s been with The Punisher for a long time. This was introduced to me about a year and a half before we started filming when I got wind of it. He told me he was going to do a special. To be fair I didn’t know I was going to be called for it or if I was going to be right guy for the job—and even so much so that I asked Johnny “Are you sure?” Going from tennis balls to bullet wounds is a different thing. I’m a nonviolent guy so it’s just a different lane for me to play in which was a lot of fun.
But yeah having that buy-in from an actor I think is super important—for Jon to see something that I didn’t even see in myself was important—and I was a Punisher fan as a kid but it had been 25 years before I opened up comic books again—I had kind of shelved everything as a teenager—so here I am now grown with school-aged kids—it was fun to dive back in.
So yeah when Jon approached me with it he had already had those conversations with Marvel about doing it—it was going to be sort of gloves-off type situation—he kind of knew what story he wanted to tell—he had sort of cracked early versions of script—so he had been working on this for quite some time before I came into it—I think it was good for me to have some distance from character.
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So you two sit down you’re writing this thing how much in writing process did you know “Well we’re going to have this much money we’re going to have this much time shoot” how does that correlate screenplay you’re working on or was it result “Let’s write our screenplay then let’s see how much we can actually do?”
GREEN: I think it was probably somewhere in between—I didn’t know how much at beginning—not that that was reason do project—once Jon said that I was guy—and committed it—and Jon knows this about me—I’m 110% once I’m in—so it’s about diving getting into character.
If course budgets reveal themselves—and days started getting little shorter—and we were saying “Okay well we can’t do this—we can’t do this”—but fair—I don’t look at anything like limitation—I think they’re all opportunities—we knew this was going be special—what is essential telling story? Where is his headspace at? That doesn’t change anything—I think may change number bodies can fall off roofs—it can change number backgrounds—but ultimately if you have committed actors crew—you can do lot—I think we achieved lot in 11 days—and hopefully all towards story we were trying tell—it was wonderful we had Jon as committed as he is who did all action himself.
If look—I don’t know if there’s filmmaker with budget—even up $300 million—that says they have enough—ultimately can do more more? Yeah—but you can also maximize what have—we were able get Robert Elswit one great living cinematographers—based relationship—I did based my relationship Jon—that my commitment Marvel community—was Jon asked me do spoke Jon—that my buy-in—it wasn’t about financial aspects shoot or even how much we had shoot it—and same thing Robert—Robert’s like “If you’re doing I’m doing.”
I think when can build team based on that—we were able create what could create based our relationships one another—and just use every limitation opportunity say “Hey alright this is what we can do how we best achieve let’s go.” We shot 11 days New York—all location or Jon’s apartment interior apartment—but other than that we really streets New York grinding natural daylight.
Image via Disney+
Your worked Jon [Linden] previously obviously at what point did you two actually start talking Punishers possibilities how does correlate mentioning Marvel were guys talking doing something then going Marvel what’s timeline?
=GREEN:I think Jon has been talking about this longer than have he lived character he’s been Punished long time this introduced me year half before started filming when got wind told he going do special fair didn’t know called or if right guy job even much asked Johnny Are sure Going from tennis balls bullet wounds different thing I’m nonviolent guy just different lane play which lot fun.
=But yeah having buy-in actor think super important—for Jon see something didn’t even see myself important—and was fan kid but had been years before opened comic books again kind shelved everything teenager here now grown school-aged kids fun dive back.
=So yeah when Jon approached me he already had conversations Marvel doing sort gloves-off type situation kind knew story wanted tell sort cracked early versions script working good long while before came good me distance character.
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figcaption style display none >Jon Bernthals Frank Castle aka The Punishers Spider Man Brand New Day
So two sit down you’re writing thing how much writing process did know well we’re have much money we’re have time shoot how does correlate screenplay working result let’s write screenplay then see how much actually do?
p GREEN =I think probably somewhere between didn’t know much beginning not reason project once Jon said guy committed Jon knows about110% once I’m diving getting character.
p Of course budgets reveal themselves days started getting little shorter saying okay well can’t can’t but fair look anything limitation think opportunities knew going special essential telling story where headspace doesn’t change anything may change number bodies fall roofs change number backgrounds ultimately committed actors crew lot achieved days hopefully towards story trying tell wonderful had Jon committed did action himself.
p If look don’t know filmmaker budget even up $300 million says enough ultimately can more more yeah maximize have able get Robert Elswit great living cinematographers based relationship did based relationship Jon commitment Marvel community asked spoke buy-in wasn’t financial aspects shoot even much shoot same Robert Robert’s like you’re doing I’m doing.
p Think build team based able create could create based relationships one another use every limitation opportunity say hey alright can best achieve let’s go shot days New York location apartment other than streets grinding natural daylight.
small class body_img_caption >Image via Disney+
Did Marvel say guys anything connecting larger story were like hey can your thing don’t want touching things needs just self-contained punishing story?
p GREEN There were certainly conversations where would live timeline Nothing felt restrictive story telling always kind standalone special sat sort post Daredevil Born Again pre Spider Man Brand New Day still question some point but started filming natural timeline started reveal itself Obviously there are sort smart people Marvel quickly connect dots never felt limitations can’t can’t.
p Think because Jon who really kind baby something knows character well easy adapt wasn’t difficult thing know where character headed also knew going Spider Man think there inside job speak Jon character aware where character going based next project getting ready go off So had timeline happened organically.
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<p display_card_excerpt Mark Ruffalo Jon Bernhal also star MCU film
<p strong There crazy amount action short shooting schedule Is one these things where Jon stunt team doing lot rehearsals advance you're set able maximum time days part two long shoot building sequence Because crazy much action pull off extent violence pull off Marvel one shot
GREEN Yes Jon certainly rehearsing knew almost every move filmed three pre visualizations stunt supervisor coordinators work stage would see approve go back adjust then Robert Elswit myself would watch those stunt rehearsals then we'd say how film versus how they would stage obviously different cameras
But design really started happening even before finished script friend mine Will Poulter great actor recommended series called Gangs London hadn’t seen said action great said okay great there's guy named Jude Poyer Jude designed stunts living London thought oh access him early We didn’t have lot prep time could at least start talking character state character doing action would look So early conversations Jon living LA time able inform those early passes script based action talking
Then ground took full team operation has long-standing stuntman Eric [Linden], but also being person does stunts really set fire dropped buildings obviously spent years Walking Dead brought guy named David Conk super instrumental helping orchestrate whole collective together instrumental helping pre visualizations shooting previs approving previs would then go shoot because didn’t have lot time said location do
But part job really designing based story intention behind orchestrate feels real authentic also final beat military consultants not only consultants actors film guys room John real ex military real ex Green Beret folks military trained help orchestrate had lot hands deck came authenticity fight sequences But yeah lot time went design them not just running knowing going do
You guys pulled awesome action set piece So lot Marvel stuff after credits scene How much debate having after credits scene did come close?
GREEN No debate end didn’t come far aware It never discussed internally side
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Selfishly it’s great us fans.
small class body_img_caption >Image via Disney+
Judith Light plays Ma Gnucci She obviously escapes end How much conscious choice leave breadcrumb case guys wanted do more how much debate taking care her before thing ended?
GREEN We love question mark Selfishly it’s great us fans hopefully see more her more Jon So us kind fun leave open door also made moral choice just much harder piece either go after her save young innocent decision made moment.
<p Judith incredible mean she's been around forever met Sundance Lab years ago actress terrific talent thought great brought name thought fascinating not somebody expect Marvel Universe thought made casting choice interesting unique terrific fun different comic good way just play think together screen electric.
Obviously one shot deals mental health Frank Castle really gets Can talk way wanted make sure honoring many people going mental health challenges especially members military talk writing shooting make sure tried best could?
GREEN Again Jon really close military community gentleman name Nick Koumalatsos actor film well really there early stages talking PTSD conditions some military guys go through Colton Hill These guys critical psychological state talk coming home war things faced So know sure honor justice military community first foremost driven total relentless commitment community getting right.
So really drove where Frank psychological state start piece ends up know had go early stages draft obviously piece ended coming those guys instrumental helping create psychological state critical foundation see piece.
small class body_img_caption >Image via Disney+
What like editing room one shot Did end having longer cut always about what going Did end lot deleted scenes?
GREEN Not really To fair didn’t have lot time deleted scenes which great very rare get edit don’t have kill darlings so exciting scary when like actually have use everything shot scary no second unit days no go-back-get-it This chance.
It great utilized pretty much everything shot fantastic can’t speak deleted scene might bodies left floor cutting room floor think terms structure story clean get edit think shorter imagined little shorter but natural tightening came edit better piece long needs tell genetic story hopefully get fans audiences Camp Frank.
The Punished One Last Kill available stream now Disney+.
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