Jon Bernthal is officially reprising his role as Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, in a new standalone special for Disney+. This marks the character’s long-anticipated return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), following Bernthal’s brief reappearance in Daredevil: Born Again earlier this year.
The upcoming special is being developed as a deeply personal and grounded story, co-written by Bernthal himself alongside director Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard). Unlike previous iterations, this project aims to delve deeper into Castle’s tortured psyche, exploring the emotional and moral weight of his vigilante crusade.
According to Bernthal, the decision to return as The Punisher wasn’t immediate. In interviews, he revealed that he initially turned down Marvel’s offer to join Daredevil: Born Again, feeling the storyline didn’t do justice to the character. However, after Marvel retooled the narrative and aligned it more closely with Castle’s darker, more complex essence, Bernthal agreed to return—not just for Daredevil, but to help shape this new vision of The Punisher from the ground up.
“This is a character that lives in my bones,” Bernthal told Entertainment Weekly. “We’re doing something raw, authentic, and true to Frank Castle.”
The project is not expected to be a full series, but rather a special presentation, similar in format to Marvel’s Werewolf by Night. It will serve as a reintroduction of Castle in the MCU, potentially setting up future appearances in crossover events or other character arcs.
While Marvel Studios has not yet confirmed a specific release date, industry insiders suggest the special could premiere in late 2025 or early 2026.
Fans of Bernthal’s portrayal from the Netflix series can expect a return to the gritty realism and emotional weight that made his version of the character so iconic—now with the full backing of Marvel Studios and the broader MCU storytelling universe.
