It looks likeJon Bernthalis more than ready to give us a full-blown dose of his unforgettable version of Marvel anti-hero Frank Castle. After making his return to the Marvel Universe inDaredevil: Born Again’s first season, Bernthal has moved on to a project of his own creation — a new Special Presentation (similar toWerewolf by NightandThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special) starring The Punisher. In a video posted on social media, Bernthal appears thanking the crew for the twelve-day shoot and giving a wrap speech.
In the video, Bernthal shares his amazement and sense of accomplishment after pulling off a task that he calls “impossible.” The actor was the one who came up with the story, and he co-writes and co-directs the special with Oscar nomineeReinaldo Marcus Green(King Richard). In the speech, it seems like only curse words can translate their hard work over the last couple of weeks. Bernthal states:
“I really believe with heart, and belief, and teamwork, and love, the impossible really is possible. And this motherfucker was impossible, but we really fucking did it, we really fucking did it, and this street right here has been magic to us. Everybody gave their all here.”
The MCU Is Not Done with ‘The Punisher’
Even though his return toDaredevil: Born Againis totally on brand with the universe established before — when Daredevil andThe PunisherwereNetflixseries — Bernthal is about to make another kind of MCU participation that we never saw coming. He was cast in the upcomingSpider-Man: Brand New Day, and is set to reprise the role of Frank Castle. Will the movie franchise go darker with such a complex character participating? Or will Frank Castle become a new enemy of Peter Parker (Tom Holland)? It’s a bit early to tell, butwe can already start speculating.
Last month,some set photos revealed the look of Frank Castlein the special, and the new video hints at his Punisher outfit. Aside from that, little else has been revealed from the project, including what the story will be and how it connects to the entire MCU — and possibly with the newSpider-Manmovie. The cast will featureRoe Rancell(For Colored Girls)andJason R. Moore(Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), but additional cast members are yet to be announced by Disney+.
The Punisher Special Presentationis set to premiere in 2026. A specific release date is yet to be unveiled.
The Punisher
