Jon Bernthal Confirms Punisher’s Relationship to Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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In 2026, fans will see two different portrayals of Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher. One version appeared in the first season of the Daredevil: Born Again series on Netflix with Jon Bernthal, and he’ll be reprising that role. The other will be a more intense and troubled version of the character, debuting in The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+ on May 12, 2026.

Fans will finally see a completely new side of the Punisher when Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters on July 31, 2026. Early information confirms the film will feature intense violence, bloodshed, and unrestrained rage from the character of Castle.

Jon Bernthal’s portrayal of the Punisher is likely ending, possibly permanently, due to the upcoming Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland. This sets up a fascinating contrast for the character within the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jon Bernthal: Punisher ‘Couldn’t Be More Different’ for Spider-Man

Speaking on the Kelly Clarkson Show, I explained that with Spider-Man, and especially working with my friend Tom Holland, it was really important to us that the same actor could seamlessly move between playing the Punisher and Spider-Man. Even though the two characters and shows have very different tones, we aimed to make that transition believable, and I think we succeeded.

The change in the character’s tone probably comes from wanting them to last a long time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether you agree with it or not (and I personally don’t), Disney and Marvel likely still believe that content with mature ratings – like R or TV-MA – can’t reach as wide an audience worldwide.

The old approach of one-and-done storylines has definitely changed, as seen with the success of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine and the Deadpool series in general. Even Marvel Zombies is getting another season despite originally being planned as a limited series. So, the fact that the Punisher was removed from Spider-Man: Brand New Day probably means Marvel has bigger plans for him within the MCU, though they might not involve the intense violence that made the character so popular in the first place.

The Punisher: One Last Kill Is Exactly That In the MCU

Before Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is famously stopped by Spider-Man with a web to the mouth, a preview of their intense interactions will arrive with The Punisher: One Last Kill in late July. And be warned: this story won’t hold back on the violence.

According to Jon Bernthal, this iteration of The Punisher is the most emotionally and psychologically challenging, and the darkest yet. He feels it’s what audiences have been hoping for. He developed the character’s storyline with Nick Koumalatsos, a Marine Raider and author who drew on his own experiences with pain and overcoming despair.

He added that it was a real honor to work on the project, especially with Cody Alford, a Marine Raider, and Colton Hill, a Green Beret, who were both on set. He described them as not only incredibly skilled but also genuinely good people. They were passionate about supporting veterans, particularly those who struggle with the transition back to civilian life, and he felt this theme was central to the story being told.

Parents might want to shield their children from The Punisher on May 11th, but the whole family will be able to watch it starting July 31st. This shift is likely to surprise longtime fans of Frank Castle, who will need time to adjust to the new version.

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2026-05-09 21:42