The Marvel Cinematic Universe is renowned for its ability to pull in some of the world's biggest stars. From Jeff Bridges all the way back in Iron Man and Samuel L. Jackson's overarching Phase One appearances to Harrison Ford, Kathryn Hahn, Julia Louis Dreyfus, and Sacha Baron Cohen's Multiverse Saga arrivals, the MCU is no stranger to star power.
Now, the franchise has only gone and done it again, as its next installment is set to feature another Hollywood legend in a rather significant villain role. Though previously rumored, the star herself has confirmed the casting, and the internet is ready to see her in action.
Judith Light confirms appearance in The Punisher: One Last Kill
Marvel Studios has officially cast Judith Light in upcoming Special Presentation The Punisher: One Last Kill, with it looking extremely likely that the star will be portraying infamous Punisher villain Ma Gnucci. Fans had speculated that Light might be involved in the production when she was spotted on set last year, but the Hollywood icon has officially confirmed her involvement in a new interview with the TODAY Show.
Although she remained coy about her actual involvement, the hosts showed a clear screenshot from the special's trailer that showcased Light in the obviously villainous role. Light spoke with nothing but appreciation for that production, praising Jon Bernthal for the writing and the story that the TV movie will ultimately tell:
"It's gonna be a surprise. Jon Bernthal is just remarkable... Jon Bernthal wrote this with Reinaldo Marcus Green, who directed King Richard, and we did this in 12 days. The crew was amazing. Jon is extraordinary. We were able to go deep really fast."
Light is a veteran of the stage and screen, with a five-decade career to her name. Her breakthrough came in the 1970s as Karen Wolek on beloved daytime soap opera One Life To Live, with her performance earning her two Daytime Emmy Awards. She co-headlined ABC sitcom Who's The Boss? throughout its eight-season run through the '80s and early '90s, and has appeared in Law & Order: SVU and Ugly Betty in significant roles. She has since become a force-to-be-reckoned with on streaming TV, appearing in the likes of Transparent, The Politician, two seasons of American Crime Story, American Horror Stories, and an episode of Poker Face - which earned her another Emmy Award. She also won back to back Tony Awards in 2012 and 2013 for her performances on Broadway productions Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties.
She's now adding the Marvel Cinematic Universe to that legendary repertoire, taking on what audiences are convinced is the role of Ma Gnucci. One of The Punisher's archenemies in the Marvel Comics, her full name is Isabella Carmela Magdalena "Ma" Gnucci and she leads one of the shared universe's best-known crime families. The character never got the chance to surface in the Netflix series, so now Marvel Studios is bringing her to life in the Disney Plus Special - having Light do the honors.
As Light mentions, Bernthal co-wrote the script with Green in a decision that was widely praised by longtime MCU fans. As the actor has played this character for a decade now, he knows how Frank Castle thinks, so to give him the chance to get inside his head in such a way - it's a homecoming for The Punisher, who had been away from the franchise for far too long.
Bernthal originally played the role in Netflix's Daredevil series back in 2016 as one of the big additions of its second season. He then headlined his own spinoff series (The Punisher) for two seasons. After the end of the Marvel Netflix era, he returned to the role six years later in Disney Plus revival Daredevil: Born Again - with the first season's post-credits scene setting the stage for his return in the One Last Kill Special Presentation. After this, he will return in this summer's blockbuster movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The Punisher: One Last Kill arrives on Disney Plus on Tuesday, May 12.
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