Jon Bernthal’s Punisher Special Is Officially The End Of An Era For Disney+

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Jon Bernthal’s upcoming project, The Punisher: One Last Kill, will likely conclude the Punisher’s story on Disney+. This marks Bernthal’s first time leading a solo Punisher project within the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, as part of Phase 6. He previously appeared as Frank Castle in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again and will also be featured in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day storyline.

The release of The Punisher: One Last Kill signals a shift for Disney+ and the future of Marvel TV shows. Currently, only Vision Quest, Wonder Man season 2, and Daredevil: Born Again season 3 have confirmed release dates. This is the smallest number of upcoming Marvel TV projects Disney has announced since 2021, suggesting a move away from streaming and a renewed focus on releasing content in theaters, similar to what we’ve seen with Star Wars.

With the release of The Punisher: One Last Kill, it feels like we’re seeing the end of an era for Marvel’s TV shows, at least based on current plans. It’s also notable as one of the last big Marvel projects to earn an R-rating. While the franchise has been exploring more adult themes recently – as seen in projects like Deadpool & Wolverine and Daredevil: Born Again – The Punisher: One Last Kill has a direct connection to that mature content, serving as a sort of follow-up.

Ratings for the second season of Daredevil: Born Again weren’t as high as the first season or other Disney+ shows like Agatha All Along. This, combined with the upcoming The Punisher: One Last Kill, suggests Disney+ might be moving away from producing R-rated Marvel content, not just TV series in general.

The MCU’s R-Rated Content May Have Been Better Off Away From Disney+

Disney+ used to keep its more adult-rated shows, like those with violence or mature themes, mostly on separate platforms like Hulu or Star+ in many countries. However, Disney is now combining Hulu and Disney+ into one app. This means viewers will soon find more mature content, including R-rated shows such as Daredevil: Born Again and The Punisher: One Last Kill, directly on Disney+.

However, as the series has progressed, viewership for Daredevil: Born Again has actually decreased. This might be because of its mature rating, as it’s not suitable for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s younger audience – a similar issue to the original Defenders series on Netflix. While there’s definitely room for more adult content within the MCU, Disney+ may not be the ideal platform for it.

Some viewers felt the language in season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again was unnatural and overly reliant on swearing. This might be because Disney, as a company, usually produces family-friendly content, making the more mature elements noticeable. It makes you wonder if shows like Daredevil: Born Again and its spin-off, The Punisher: One Last Kill, would have fit better on a streaming service like Hulu.

The Future Of Marvel’s R-Rated TV Content Is Unclear

Besides The Punisher: One Last Kill, Daredevil: Born Again season 3 is currently the only other R-rated project Marvel is planning for Disney+. However, its future beyond the initial season depends on how well it performs with viewers, and Disney hasn’t committed to continuing that more mature side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe if ratings are low.

This fits with the overall inconsistency of Marvel’s TV shows. It’s clear that shows aimed at younger audiences generally attract more viewers. Because of this, The Punisher: One Last Kill might not perform well, potentially signaling the end of more mature Marvel content on Disney+.

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2026-05-11 04:18