Advertisement
Tom Holland recently shared an amusing story about a surprising moment with his Marvel Cinematic Universe colleague Jon Bernthal. During a Hot Ones interview, Holland explained why Bernthal, who is known for his role as The Punisher, once gave him a good slap.
The story behind the slap isn’t as dramatic as it sounds. Holland was actually the one who asked Bernthal to hit him. He explained that while filming the medieval action movie *Pilgrimage*, he wanted to get into the right mindset for a particularly intense scene. Holland thought it might help if Bernthal gave him a bit of a rough time to boost his performance. Holland described Bernthal as “one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met” and said that he requested Bernthal to “rough him up a bit” to bring out the stress needed for the scene.
Initially, Bernthal was reluctant, saying he didn’t want to hurt his co-star because he saw him as a “little brother” and genuinely liked him. Holland understood and let it go. However, when the cameras rolled, Bernthal surprised him with a sudden slap that was both unexpected and impactful, making it a memorable part of the scene.
Holland looked back on the experience fondly, saying it worked perfectly for the scene and that meeting Bernthal was a highlight for him. Although they haven’t worked together since, Holland expressed a desire to team up with Bernthal again in the future.
On another note, when asked about the possibility of The Punisher appearing in a PG-13 MCU film, Holland expressed concern. He feels that the character of Frank Castle, known for his darker, more intense stories, might not fit well within the family-friendly tone of the MCU. Holland believes that any dilution of the character’s gritty essence would be a disservice to both the character’s legacy and his dedicated fans.