Marvel Terminates Overall Deals ‘The Punisher’ & ‘Helstrom’ Showrunners

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Marvel has terminated the overall deals with Steve Lightfoot (The Punisher) and Paul Zbyszewski (Helstrom) due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic having a devastating effect on the global economy, television studios have responded to the uncertainty by terminating deals as a means of cutting back financially amid the economic uncertainty. Now, The Hollywood Reporter has learned Marvel’s deals with Helstrom showrunner Paul Zbyszewski and The Punisher alum Steve Lightfoot are some of the first to be force majeured due to the budgetary reassessments studios are making amid due to the pandemic.

THR sources say Paul Zbyszewski and Steve Lightfoot’s respective deals were with Marvel and not the division that serves as the studio for Disney’s comic book series’, ABC Studios. Marvel reportedly declined to comment on the termination of their deals with The Punisher and Helstrom showrunners.

According to the outlet’s sources, Paul Zbyszewski, who’s time with Marvel began with Agents of SHIELD, will remain on board to wrap up post-production on the first season of Helstrom, the upcoming live-action Marvel series for Hulu that managed to finish production before the industry-wide shutdown. Steve Lightfoot, on the other hand, had a relatively shorter time with Marvel as the showrunner on The Punisher before Netflix canceled the series after two seasons.

Helstrom stars Daniel Cudmore joins Tom Austen as Daimon Helstrom, Sydney Lemmon as Ana Helstrom, and Elizabeth Marvel as Victoria Helstrom. The Hulu series is currently scheduled to debut on the streaming service in 2020. However, the two seasons of The Punisher are still on Netflix for viewers to watch: Here’s the official synopsis for The Punisher:

Former marine-turned-vigilante Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) has been living a quiet life on the road until he suddenly becomes embroiled in the attempted murder of a young girl (Giorgia Whigham). As he is drawn into the mystery surrounding her and those in pursuit of the information she holds, Castle attracts a new target on his back as new and old enemies force him to confront whether he should accept his destiny and embrace a life as “The Punisher.

Stay tuned to Heroic Hollywood for the latest news on Marvel’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic as it develops.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Sebastian Peris

Sebastian Peris

Canadian film buff, political junkie, comic book geek, and board game enthusiast.