DAREDEVIL Star Ben Affleck Reflects On Marvel's Role And "Wouldn't Tangle" With Jon Bernthal's Punisher

DAREDEVIL Star Ben Affleck Reflects On Marvel's Role And "Wouldn't Tangle" With Jon Bernthal's Punisher

Justice League star Ben Affleck played the Man Without Fear in 2003's Daredevil, and has now reflected on that and the possibility of facing Jon Bernthal's Punisher while discussing The Accountant 2...

By JoshWilding - Apr 14, 2025 06:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Daredevil

Ben Affleck played the Man Without Fear in 2003's Daredevil, a movie released in a hit-and-miss era of superhero storytelling that included movies like Spider-Man, X-Men, Catwoman, and Fantastic Four.

While Daredevil spawned a spin-off in Elektra, there was no sequel, and Matt Murdock remained on the shelf until Netflix released the Daredevil TV series in 2015. Affleck's return was considered for Deadpool & Wolverine, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen (we'd bet on him not being interested). 

After moving on from Batman, the actor can be found sharing the screen with Daredevil: Born Again and The Punisher star Jon Bernthal in The Accountant 2

During a recent interview, Affleck talked about how Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige's approach to adapting Daredevil differs from what he saw in the early 2000s and admitted that, if he were still playing Matt, he "wouldn't tangle with [Jon Bernthal's] Punisher."

"Well, his Punisher is good. Daredevil was an interesting story," Affleck started. "It was before Kevin Feige had stepped into the role of running Marvel."

"He imposed a kind of clarity of tone across those movies that sort of figured out the trickiest thing, which is, 'How do you balance a movie where you got people wearing pajamas and have superpowers, and how seriously you take it, and how much humor is in it, and how much you wink at the audience, and what does the action have to look like?'"

"It coincided with visual effects getting to a place where it could look really convincing. It paved the way for great actors like him to really get it done," the actor continued. "There's a new Daredevil, I haven't seen it yet, but I certainly love the character, I wish him the best, but I wouldn't tangle with his Punisher."

Charlie Cox has since taken over the role of Daredevil, though there's no word on when or where he'll make his big screen debut as the vigilante. However, Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day seem likely next destinations for Matt. 

As for Bernthal's Punisher, he's expected to return in Daredevil: Born Again's season 1 finale and is planning to shoot a "Marvel Special Presentation" revolving around Frank Castle later this year. He also hasn't appeared in a movie after previously appearing in Netflix's Daredevil and The Punisher TV shows. 

You can hear more from Affleck and Bernthal on The Accountant 2 in the player below. 

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Gabimaru
Gabimaru - 4/14/2025, 6:17 AM
I hope jon will take some advice with affleck with his upcoming special presentation punisher.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/14/2025, 9:01 AM
@Gabimaru -

Whether he does or doesn't, it will statistically not be good.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 4/14/2025, 9:19 AM
@Gabimaru - what advice? Don’t do CBM interviews while depressed?
Vigor
Vigor - 4/14/2025, 6:50 AM
If they did the punisher right, it can take on a life of its own
Love how you show people clips from winter soldier (like my mom) and they are shocked to find out it's MCU

Punisher needs to be like that. Super hero story but so raw and quality
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/14/2025, 8:08 AM
@Vigor - knowing how passionate Bernthal is (dude did not return for the original version of BA because he didn’t agree with the direction for Frank) and how involved he is the Special presentation , I can see it being raw
CaptainAwkward
CaptainAwkward - 4/14/2025, 7:03 AM
Affleck’s Batman and Berthnal’s Punisher are my favourite versions of the character lol.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 4/14/2025, 7:24 AM
Mattfleck in Secret Wars?
That would be sweet as pumpkin pie.
Know what else would be sweet?
Ben Affleck as The Last Ronin!
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Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/14/2025, 8:57 AM
@ObserverIO - Excited for the adaptations of this story!
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 4/14/2025, 8:08 AM
It would’ve been cool to see Thomas Janes Punisher team up with Affleck’s DareDevil in secret wars even if just for a cameo. But seems like Ben doesn’t want anything to do with reprising that role… too much superhero ptsd.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/14/2025, 8:18 AM
I have never seen the directors cut of Affleck’s Daredevil but while the TC itself isn’t great , it does have some standouts imo…

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Probably an unpopular opinion but I enjoyed Farrell’s Bullseye…

I am a big fan of Wilson Bethel’s version but I think the former brought to life the over the top psychotic nature of the comic iteration.
TDKRnry88
TDKRnry88 - 4/14/2025, 8:44 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Check out the director's cut. It's actually better than a lot of MCU movies in my opinion. They need to do like George Lucas & Lucasfilm did with the Star Wars OT & make the Daredevil director's cut the official version. Stop broadcasting, streaming & selling any version of the theatrical cut.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/14/2025, 8:47 AM
@TDKRnry88 - I’ll try to give it a shot

Thanks!!.
MikashaX
MikashaX - 4/14/2025, 8:48 AM
Yes His last two movies tanked?
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/14/2025, 9:00 AM
@MikashaX -

Like Anthony Mackie.

And Rachel Zegler.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/14/2025, 8:59 AM
Yeah the MCU Frank Castle is a self hating man with White guilt who only goes after White people.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 4/14/2025, 9:18 AM
Imagine… the main Avengers enter into Dooms Universe to run into the leader of the Hand who happens to be Afflecks Shadowlands DareDevil. Id hope a great ninja battle would ensue.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 4/14/2025, 10:12 AM
@slickrickdesigns - Oh dude... That would rule.
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Voxl89
Voxl89 - 4/14/2025, 10:09 AM
Affleck Daredevil >>>>>>> Affleck Batman

Both the character portrayal *and* quality of the movie
whatthetruck
whatthetruck - 4/14/2025, 10:17 AM
just dawned on me this guy played both the DC and Marvel Batman

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