Jon Bernthal says he relies on grit and dedication as he returns across major screen roles

Jon Bernthal says the most reliable part of his process is the portion he can control, describing acting as a practice rooted in grit and dedication as he moves between major screen projects. In an NPR Culture conversation published July 30, Bernthal said, “Our grit and our dedication is the one thing that we have control of,” framing his approach around consistency even as productions and character demands change.

The interview connects that philosophy to two contrasting roles that Bernthal is taking on: a historical figure in The Odyssey and a comic-book character tied to one of the entertainment industry’s biggest ongoing franchises. NPR reports that he plays a Spartan king in The Odyssey, a role that shifts him from contemporary crime and genre work into a different kind of storytelling register.

Alongside the historical role, Bernthal is also set to reprise the Punisher in a new Spider-Man film, according to NPR. The appearance extends a pattern of Bernthal building a distinct screen identity around characters whose intensity is portrayed through physical discipline and a refusal to soften under pressure, even when the setting and tone differ from project to project.

Asked about how he prepares for work that requires extreme commitment, Bernthal ties his method back to the same basic driver: what he can control as production unfolds. NPR reports him emphasizing dedication and grit as the foundation, rather than expecting outcomes to be shaped entirely by factors outside his reach.

Bernthal’s comments arrive at a moment when mainstream franchises and large-scale adaptations increasingly involve actors who commit to demanding character frameworks. NPR’s reporting highlights how he is juggling roles that require different kinds of performance control, from a Spartan king’s presence and restraint to a street-level, combat-forward comic character that carries built-in expectations from audiences.

In The Odyssey, NPR says Bernthal portrays the Spartan king, placing him within a story tradition where character authority and collective identity can be central to the portrayal. In the Spider-Man project, NPR reports he returns as the Punisher, a role that comes with fan recognition and established character boundaries that actors must navigate while still bringing their own interpretation.

Overall, NPR’s account presents Bernthal as an actor who treats cross-genre work less as a break from routine and more as an extension of the same underlying principle. His message, as reported, is that the craft is anchored in internal discipline, even when external circumstances and story worlds are not.

NPR’s interview does not provide additional confirmed details about release timelines, supporting cast, or production schedules beyond the roles themselves. The next concrete steps for audiences will depend on the projects’ respective release and marketing schedules, while Bernthal’s stated approach points to a steady, intensity-driven throughline across his upcoming work.