---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Frank Castle, meet thy enemy?

Netflix’s latest Marvel spinoff, The Punisher, has cast English actor Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) in a series-regular role opposite Jon Bernthal’s titular vigilante, TVLine has learned exclusively. Character info is sketchy, but one rumor making the rounds has Barnes — who will next be seen in HBO’s big-budget Westworld — portraying antagonist Bobby Saint, the corrupt crime prodigy played in the 2004 film by James Carpinello.

A Netflix rep declined to comment.

Barnes’ stateside TV credits also include playing Sam Adams in the 2015 History miniseries Sons of Liberty.

Viewers got their first look at Bernthal’s gun-toting antihero in Season 2 of Daredevil, which dropped last March. Netflix formally pulled the trigger on a Punisher-centric series one month later (although the project was unofficially greenlit back in January). Hannibal scribe Steve Lightfoot will serve as showrunner.

For those keeping track at home, The Punisher marks Netflix’s sixth Marvel series, following Daredevil, Jessica Jones, the upcoming Luke Cage, and the in-the-works Iron Fist and The Defenders.

---

---

The Netflix original series ‘Marvel’s The Punisher’ has announced three new cast members who will be joining Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/The Punisher) in the series. “Marvel’s The Punisher” will be streaming globally on Netflix in 2017.

Ben Barnes (“The Chronicles of Narnia“) joins the cast as Billy Russo, Frank’s Castle’s best friend from his days in the Special Forces. He runs a successful private military corporation called “Anvil.”’

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“Girls”) will play Micro, a former NSA analyst whose secrets may be of great value to Frank Castle and everyone around them.

And Amber Rose Revah (“Indian Summers,” “Son of God”) joins as Dinah Madani, a highly-trained sophisticated Homeland Security agent who is vexed by the Punisher.

“I’m really excited about the cast we're assembling alongside Bernthal as Frank Castle,” said showrunner and Executive Producer Steve Lightfoot. “I look forward to watching Ben, Ebon and Amber embody these characters and breathe vivid life into the story we are crafting for this season of 'Marvel's The Punisher.'"

"We couldn’t be more thrilled about the remarkable talent joining Jon Bernthal in 'Marvel’s The Punisher.' Ebon, Ben and Amber are incredibly talented actors and we can’t wait to see them bring these characters to life,” said Jeph Loeb, Executive Producer and Marvel’s Head of Television.

It was previously announced that Jon Bernthal whom whom fans were first introduced to in Season 2 of "Marvel’s Daredevil," will lead the cast as Frank Castle/The Punisher.

Steve Lightfoot (“Hannibal”) will write the series’ first two episodes in addition to serving as showrunner and Executive Producer. Jim Chory ("Marvel’s Daredevil," "Marvel’s Jessica Jones" and "Marvel’s Luke Cage") will also serve as Executive Producer along with Jeph Loeb ("Marvel’s Daredevil," "Marvel’s Jessica Jones" and "Marvel’s Luke Cage"), Marvel’s Head of Television.

"Marvel’s The Punisher" is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix.

---