Marvel and Netflix were planning a panel to showcase their upcoming Punisher series at this weekend’s New York Comic Con. But in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, the panel has been canceled.
In a joint statement released this evening, the production companies explained how they came to the decision:
“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.”
Prior to this news, Netflix had still yet to announce the official release date for The Punisher—a Daredevil spinoff about the vigilante known for his use of high-powered guns and rifles. It’s thought that Saturday’s panel might have featured a surprise announcement for the series’ premiere.
Update: Netflix and Marvel have also cancelled a screening of The Punisher’s first two episodes that was slated for Paris’ Nuit Noire event at the historic Cirque d’Hiver, site of the oldest permanent circus in the world. In a public statement about the decision, the companies again emphasized that they felt that screening the show so soon after the Las Vegas shooting “wouldn’t be appropriate.”
[Deadline]