'F**k them' - The Punisher hates the alt-right

Members of the extremist alt-right group may idolise violent anti-hero the Punisher, but the real man only hates them in return.

Jon Bernthal portrays lead character Frank Castle in Netflix's adaptation of Marvel comic The Punisher, a vigilante set on avenging his murdered family.

The symbol of The Punisher was displayed alongside Nazi and other terrorist group symbols at the notorious alt-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where an anti-hate protester was killed by white supremacist James Alex Fields Jr.

Bernthal was asked about alt-right members using his character's symbol in such a way by Esquire magazine.

"F**k them," he simply replied.

In the same interview, Bernthal discussed his views on gun control, as Frank Castle/The Punisher is a famously gun-crazed character.

Despite confessing to being a firearm owner "to keep his family safe", the actor - also known for his role in The Walking Dead - said there should be stricter control in the US.

"Should there be a way that a guy with mental issues like [some] asshole in Texas can't get guns? Absolutely," Bernthal said, referring to the Sutherland Springs church shooting.

"We have to have a dialogue, and that's not happening."

The Punisher season one was released on Netflix in November, 2017.

Newshub.