Jon Bernthal is set to make a notable return to the Marvel universe, reprising his role as Frank Castle in a new special titled The Punisher. This special, which will be available on Disney+, is anticipated to be released in the summer of 2026.
Filming for The Punisher special took place over a 12-day shoot in New York City. It will run for 60 minutes, making it Marvel Studios’ longest special to date, surpassing the previous record held by Werewolf By Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Jon Bernthal, who previously portrayed Frank Castle in Netflix’s Daredevil and The Punisher series, expressed his commitment to maintaining the character’s darker tone. He stated, “It’s going to be dark. Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness. It’s not going to be easy. I don’t know if that’s the Netflix tone then that’s what it’s going to be. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.”
The special aims to stay authentic to the character’s essence, with Bernthal co-writing the script alongside director Reinaldo Marcus Green. Bernthal also mentioned that the special will be “as high-octane Punisher as you’ve ever seen.””>
In addition to the special, Frank Castle will make his theatrical debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. The first trailer for this film has already garnered significant attention, achieving 718.6 million views within 24 hours.
The supporting cast for The Punisher special includes Jason R. Moore, Roe Rancell, and Mila Jaymes, contributing to the anticipation surrounding the project. The timing of the special’s release, coinciding with the debut of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is expected to create a significant buzz within the Marvel fan community.
As fans eagerly await Bernthal’s return, the implications of this special extend beyond mere entertainment; it bridges his television legacy with his film future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding specific plot points or additional character appearances in the special. However, the excitement surrounding Bernthal’s portrayal of Frank Castle continues to grow as the release date approaches.
