Netflix Decides Now Isn't Time to Roll Out Violent New Show

Netflix has decided that now is not the time to roll out its adaptation of one of Marvel's most violent comics. The company says it has canceled Saturday events in Paris and New York where the first two episodes of The Punisher were to be screened, Variety reports. "We are stunned and saddened by this week's senseless act in Las Vegas," Netflix and Marvel said in a joint statement Thursday. They said they had "decided it wouldn’t be appropriate for Marvel's The Punisher to go ahead with the Paris Nuit Noire event and to participate in New York Comic-Con."

The 13-episode series stars Jon Bernthal as a combat veteran who exacts bloody revenge after his family is killed. Netflix hadn't set a release date for the series, preferring to build excitement with a surprise launch expected in October, possibly as soon as Saturday, Newsday reports. The series is now expected to be released later this fall. Earlier this week, the red carpet celebration before the premiere of Blade Runner 2049 was canceled, reports the Washington Post. At the Hollywood screening, producer Andrew Kosove delivered an emotional speech, saying they had been "reminded how precious and fragile life is." (More Netflix stories.)