Netflix is no stranger to great shows and beloved characters, and one of its most popular actors is Ben Barnes. In recent years, Barnes has made a name for himself portraying fan favorite characters, from The Punisher’s Billy Russo to Westworld’s Logan Delos. Now, Barnes is taking on a new kind of role, playing the villain in Netflix’s upcoming series The Punisher: Force of Nature.
The Punisher: Force of Nature follows the story of vigilante Frank Castle, known as the Punisher. After a long, grueling tour of duty in the Marines, Castle returns home looking for justice and intent on punishing those he deems deserving of his vengeance. As Castle becomes entangled in a turf war between two rival gangs, he finds himself up against a new enemy, one that is more powerful and sinister than anything he’s ever faced before.
Enter Ben Barnes as John Garrity, a nefarious criminal mastermind with a thirst for power and vengeance. Barnes is no stranger to playing villains or antiheroes, having done so in his previous roles. But Garrity is something different for Barnes, who says he is ready to sink his teeth into the role of a truly malevolent character.
“I wanted to playagainst type,” Barnes says. “I have played a lot of characters that are morally grey – but I found it much more interesting and challenging to take on a character that is , almost unforgivably, in the wrong. Garrity is a chameleon; constantly shifting and never revealing his true intentions”
To prepare for the role, Barnes explored real-life stories of criminals and learned as much as he could about the criminal underworld. He also read books on the psychology of villains, examining both the surface and the deeper motivations that drive them.
“My challenge was to find a way to bring this character to life without exploiting the archetypes of villainy and finding a way to make him seem more human that monstrous,” Barnes explains.
As Barnes steps into the shoes of one of Netflix’s most notorious villains, fans of the streaming platform can expect an exciting addition to the cast of The Punisher: Force of Nature. With Barnes’ commitment to fully understanding the role, it’s sure to be an unmissable performance.
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