Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle in The Punisher remains one of Marvel’s most acclaimed performances, thanks in large part to its raw, grounded action. According to stunt coordinator Thom Khoury Williams, that realism didn’t happen by accident—it was the result of Bernthal’s relentless dedication behind the scenes.
Speaking with Who Let Us Out, Williams, whose credits include The Punisher and Doom Patrol, revealed how every fight sequence was built around character first, with Bernthal playing an active role in shaping Frank Castle’s brutal fighting style.
For Williams, action should never exist simply for spectacle. Instead, every punch, takedown, and confrontation begins with understanding the character.
“Lots of character development. So of course, you always want to go through the fights from a character perspective.”
That philosophy meant involving Bernthal long before cameras rolled.
“We would heavily involve Jon Bernthal ahead of time, talking to him about the fights, what he wanted to do, how he thought his character was gonna handle, which was usually very violent and bloody… and very realistic.”
The result was action that felt authentic rather than choreographed, helping The Punisher become known for some of the most realistic fight scenes in comic book television.
Jon Bernthal Rehearsed During His Lunch Breaks
Williams also shared one surprising behind-the-scenes detail that demonstrates Bernthal’s commitment to the role.
While filming the series, the actor regularly spent his lunch breaks rehearsing fight choreography before heading straight back to set.
“John would come in during lunch breaks and rehearse, which is really rare for a TV show. He didn’t have a mask on, he wanted to be as involved as possible. We’d be shooting all day. He’d rush in at lunch, rehearse the fights, then run back to set and keep working.”
Williams said Bernthal’s willingness to invest that extra time helped elevate every action sequence throughout the series.
Why The Punisher‘s Action Still Holds Up
Unlike many superhero projects that rely heavily on CGI, Williams believes audiences connect more with action that feels tangible.
“It looks better if you see it in camera, and then it’s accentuated with visual effects.”
He explained that he prefers practical stunt work enhanced by visual effects rather than sequences that feel completely digital.
“As a fan of the superhero genre, I don’t like seeing something that looks like a video game… You want to feel weight in these sequences.”
That philosophy became one of the defining elements of The Punisher, where every hit felt painful and every fight carried real consequences.
Comic Book Fans Notice Everything
Williams also acknowledged that today’s superhero audiences are more detail-oriented than ever.
“Comic book and sci-fi fandom… analyze everything.”
Rather than seeing that scrutiny as pressure, he views it as motivation.
“You have to be faithful to them… They’re the whole reason we’re there.”
For Williams, respecting the source material and the fans who love it is essential to creating memorable superhero action.
No Fight Should Ever Feel Easy
When asked if any stunt looked effortless despite being difficult to execute, Williams had a different perspective.
“I wouldn’t say any stunt looks effortless.”
He explained that characters like Frank Castle aren’t supposed to appear invincible.
Instead, audiences should see people fighting through pain, trauma, and impossible odds.
“They’re fighting from the bottom and overcoming something to win.”
That philosophy is one of the reasons The Punisher continues to stand out among comic book adaptations years after its release.
His Dream Marvel Fight
Looking toward the future, Williams revealed he’d love to choreograph a battle featuring one of his favorite Marvel heroes.
A longtime fan of Cyclops, he hopes to see the X-Men leader face a proper MCU version of Apocalypse.
“I’d like to see a cool, awesome version of Apocalypse in the new MCU.”
With Marvel Studios preparing to introduce the X-Men into the MCU, fans may eventually get to see that dream matchup become a reality.
