RUMOR: Marvel’s Punisher Is Looking To Cast A Female Villain (And Fans think They Know who It Is)

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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 is set to introduce a new character for Jon Bernthal’s solo project titled “The Punisher.” It appears they are looking to cast a talented female actor to play the role of the antagonist in this upcoming special.

In the portrayal of Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, by Bernthal, viewers were left in awe. He first appeared as The Punisher in Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2 on Netflix. His performance was highly praised and it became clear that many were deeply impressed due to him being given his own series, The Punisher, which premiered on the same streaming platform in November 2017. Despite the show ending in February 2019, Bernthal’s performance was widely applauded. When Marvel resumed Daredevil and rebooted the series on Disney Plus, they invited Bernthal to return as The Punisher. Given that Daredevil: Born Again is a continuation of Netflix’s Daredevil and the studio announced a standalone Punisher special for next year, it makes sense for him to reprise his role. Recently, there have been some updates about the casting for this special.

Information from scoop provider Daniel Richtman suggests a female crime boss antagonist has been cast for the upcoming Punisher special. Fans are particularly excited about this news and have speculated that the character could be Isabella Carmela Magdalena “Ma” Gnucci, as she is the only known female crime boss linked to the Punisher. This theory gained traction on Reddit, with some fans convinced it’s Ma Gnucci due to her association with the Punisher in previous media. Another fan added that the Gnuccis were mentioned in the Punisher series, making their appearance in the special plausible.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), while the Gnucci family has been referenced, specifically Ma Gnucci, she hasn’t yet made an appearance, not even in shows like Netflix’s The Punisher. Instead, Tony Gnucci from the same crime family was portrayed by James J Lorenzo and appeared in Season 1, Episode 1 of The Punisher. However, his screen time was limited as he was killed off early in the series by the Punisher. Speculation about Ma Gnucci joining the MCU has been ongoing for eight years now, with fans suggesting various actresses for the role. Some have proposed Maggie Wheeler or Katey Sagal, while others were hoping for Lena Headey to take on the character back then. More recently, Linda Hunt, an Academy Award winner for her portrayal of a male character in The Year of Living Dangerously, has been mentioned as a potential candidate for playing Ma Gnucci.

In the storyline of the Punisher, Ma Gnucci is often depicted as the main antagonist. She plays a pivotal role in the narrative “Welcome Back, Frank,” where she serves as Frank Castle’s target for his brand of vigilante justice. It’s plausible that fans are correct in identifying her as the female villain. As for who could play this character, suggestions from fans include several talented actresses. Hunt is a strong contender due to her commanding presence, even though she’s small in stature, which could suit Ma Gnucci’s intimidating persona well. She has also demonstrated her ability to play authoritative and sharp-witted characters. However, her age (80+) may limit her involvement in action scenes. Sagal, famous for shows like “Sons of Anarchy,” has shown her talent in portraying morally ambiguous crime matriarchs, making her a viable option as she can convincingly embody both vicious and vulnerable traits. Wheeler is another possibility, but her comedic background might not align with the darker aspects of Ma Gnucci’s character unless she adapts to portray a ruthless, manipulative persona. The most fitting choice could be the actress Headey from “Game of Thrones.” She has the necessary presence to bring a ruthless, powerful, and cold-blooded matriarch to life, which could elevate Ma Gnucci into an iconic and prestigious MCU villain. However, she might appear too refined for a grotesque Ma Gnucci, but this could be addressed with makeup adjustments. Headey is capable of delivering a chilling performance with raw authenticity.

The Punisher special will be released in 2026.

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2025-05-22 20:09