Summary
- Marvel Studios is reportedly casting a female crime boss villain for Jon Bernthal's Punisher special.
- Some fans believe the female villain could be Ma Gnucci from the Punisher's storyline.
- Potential actresses to play Ma Gnucci include Linda Hunt, Katey Sagal, Maggie Wheeler, and Lena Headey.
Marvel Studios adds a new character in Jon Bernthal's standalone special, Punisher. They are reportedly casting a female actress to portray the villain.
Bernthal's portrayal of Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, left an impression on fans. He made his debut as The Punisher in Marvel's Daredevil Season 2 on Netflix. His performance received critical acclaim and it was evident that many were very impressed because he earned a standalone series, The Punisher, which premiered on the same streaming platform in November 2017. The Punisher ran for two seasons, and even if it was canceled in February 2019, Bernthal's performance was celebrated. When Marvel picked up Daredevil and rebooted the series on Disney Plus, they invited Bernthal to reprise his role as The Punisher. It made sense since Daredevil: Born Again was a continuation of Netflix's Daredevil and the studio announced a standalone Punisher special that would premiere next year. A new report shared some updates about its casting.
‘I’m Only Usable For Television’ One Daredevil: Born Again Star Can't Appear In MCU Movies
Fans are unlikely to see this particular Daredevil: Born Again villain in an MCU movie anytime soon.
Movie scooper Daniel Richtman shared some details about the Punisher special in his recent Patreon newsletter issue. According to him, Marvel Studios cast a "female crime boss villain." Although he didn't include a name, fans were ecstatic and they had one name in mind — Isabella Carmela Magdalena "Ma" Gnucci, aka Ma Gnucci – the Gnucci matriarch. Fans discussed the rumored villain in the upcoming special on Reddit. One sounded sure that it was Ma Gnucci because she was the only female crime boss associated with Punisher, to their knowledge. Another seemingly agreed, noting that the Gnuccis were mentioned in the Punisher show. Thus, it makes sense for the Gnuccis to be featured in the Punisher special.
Although the Gnucci was mentioned, Ma Gnucci has not appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including in Netflix's The Punisher. However, Tony Gnucci, a member of the Gnucci Crime Family, appeared on screen. The character was portrayed by James J Lorenzo, and he appeared in Season 1, Episode 1, "3 Am." However, his stint was short since he was killed by the Punisher early in the series. With Ma Gnucci potentially making her debut in the MCU, fans dropped several names, who could potentially play her. Some said they wanted Maggie Wheeler for the role. Another suggested Lost star Katey Sagal. There were already discussions about Ma Gnucci possibly joining the MCU eight years ago and fans wanted Lena Headey to play the character. However, another interesting name that came into discussion was Linda Hunt, who won an Oscar for portraying a male character in the 1982 romantic drama The Year of Living Dangerously.
Ma Gnucci is known as the supervillain in the Punisher's storyline. She plays a significant role in "Welcome Back, Frank," where she becomes Frank's target of vigilante justice. Thus, fans are likely right that the female villain is her. As for who could potentially play the character, the names fans suggest are brilliant actresses. Among the names, Hunt is a strong candidate because she has a commanding presence despite her small stature, which could work well for Ma Gnucci's intimidating character. She's also skilled at playing authoritative and sharp-witted characters. However, she's already in her 80s and there could be physical limitations in action scenes. Sagal, best known for Sons of Anarchy, has already proven her talent in playing morally ambiguous crime matriarchs. She can be vicious and vulnerable, making her a solid and authentic fit for the character. Wheeler is also an interesting choice, but she's known for comedic roles, which might distract audiences unless she fully reinvents herself to adapt Ma Gnucci's ruthless and manipulative nature. The best choice could be the Game of Thrones star, Headey. She has the commanding presence to portray a ruthless, powerful, manipulative, and cold-blooded matriarch, which could elevate Ma Gnucci into an iconic and prestige-level MCU villain. However, she might be too elegant for a grotesque Ma Gnucci, but they could work on that with makeup. Headey is capable of delivering a chilling performance with gritty realism.
The Punisher special will be released in 2026.
‘Those Iconic Characters Are Always In Your Mind’ Daredevil: Born Again Showrunner On Bringing Back MCU Heroes
The Daredevil: Born Again showrunner admits they are considering bringing back a few more familiar faces.
Source: Patreon