‘The Punisher’ Star Ben Barnes Nearly Joined ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’

The Punisher star Ben Barnes recently confessed that he almost had a role in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

The question of whether the Marvel shows on Netflix take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been up for some debate. Although the shows occasionally referenced the Avengers, there wasn’t much shared DNA between the two. However, according to Ben Barnes, the actor nearly made the jump from Jon Bernathal’s The Punisher over to The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Although it doesn’t seem likely that he would’ve reprised his role as Jigsaw in the Disney Plus series.

During an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Ben Barnes explained that The Falcon and The Winter Soldier director Kari Skogland reached out to him about a role in the series. Unfortunately because he was about to start production on the Shadow and Bone series for Netflix he wasn’t able to do it. He explained that he wasn’t sure which character it would’ve been, which in itself seems to shoot down any idea of Barnes returning to his Jigsaw role from The Punisher.

“And [Kari Skogland] actually messaged me saying she was doing [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier] and that there might be a character for me in it. And I was just about to do Shadow and Bone, so I didn’t even know what it might be.”

Are you disappointed Ben Barnes didn’t join The Falcon and The Winter Soldier? Who do you think The Punisher star would’ve played? Sound-off in the comments below!

Here is the official synopsis for the Marvel Studios series:

Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience—in Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.”

Directed by Kari Skogland from scripts written by showrunner Malcolm Spellman and Derek Kolstad, the series stars Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier, Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter, Daniel Brühl as Baron Helmut Zemo, and Wyatt Russell as John Walker / U.S. Agent. Actors Desmond Chiam, Miki Ishikawa, Noah Mills, and Carl Lumbly have also been cast.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier premieres exclusively on Disney Plus every Friday. Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news on The Punisher star Ben Barnes’ future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!

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