Netflix has cancelled a panel for The Punisher scheduled for the New York Comic Con after the horrible mass shooting tragedy that saw 50 people lose their lives in Las Vegas.
Netflix was possibly preparing to showcase a new trailer and screen a few episodes of the Marvel TV show during the New York Comic Con festival, but the company has chosen to cancel the same given that gun violence is one of the major themes of the show, as seen in the first trailer.
Marvel and Netflix have even issued a joint statement on the matter saying, “We are stunned and saddened by this week’s senseless act in Las Vegas. After careful consideration, Netflix and Marvel have decided it wouldn't be appropriate for Marvel’s The Punisher to participate in New York Comic Con. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and those affected by this tragedy.”
The first trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher was all about the action. Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) is an ex-marine looking for revenge for the murder of his family. The death of his family forces Castle to take on the role of the merciless Punisher. Scenes from the first action-packed trailer show multiple gun battles, including one that happens completely in the dark, with only gunshots illuminating the scene.
This would, of course, not be an appropriate time to promote a show that has an underlying theme of gun violence, even if it is fictitious and purely for the purpose of entertainment. We also expect the release date for the show to be pushed further ahead for the same reasons, however, Netflix has not informed Digit of a delay in the premiere date.
Meanwhile, most of the screeners and other marketing material provided to journalists have also been pulled off from Netflix’s media center.