The Punisher to co-star in SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY

Variety and other outlets report Jon Bernthal will reprise the role of the Punisher in the next live-action Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It will mark the first time his version of Frank Castle has appeared on the big screen, and his second film with lead actor Tom Holland, after the 2016 historical drama Pilgrimage (a movie that both actors helped each other with auditioning for their MCU roles while in the middle of its production.)

Jon Bernthal as the Punisher on his Netflix series (2017-2019)

Now, while Charlie Cox‘s Matt Murdock/Daredevil crossed over from his TV-MA series for a cameo in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, the addition of the Punisher still comes as a surprise, given how much more brutal, murderous, and controversial the character is. With that said, it’s important to remember the Punisher made his debut in the comics in 1974’s The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (written by Gerry Conway with art by Ross Andru), and one of his few forays into family-friendly media came in the 1990s’ animated Spider-Man series. The decision will make Brand New Day the Punisher’s fourth big screen appearance, after 1989’s Punisher (starring Dolph Lundgren), the 2004 film (with Thomas Jane), and 2008’s War Zone (featuring the late Ray Stevenson.)

Little is known about the plot of Brand New Day, which is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) for a release in theaters on July 31, 2026. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are expected to respectively return as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson and Ned Leeds, while Sadie Sink is set to play a new character, but beyond that, the lack of confirmed information on the premise, or who the villains will be, means Bernthal’s casting is undoubtedly causing a lot of speculation over whether Matt Murdock will return, or if Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin will be the main antagonist. (D’Onofrio’s denied this, even offering a strong rights-based explanation, but actors have been known to lie to maintain their NDAs.)

Bernthal, who returned to the role of Castle after a six-year hiatus in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again this March, is also expected to star in a Punisher special next year for Disney+ (a project that he has written as well.) Whether he’ll also return in Born Again season two remains to be seen, but with Krysten Ritter confirmed to be making a comeback there as Jessica Jones, fans should have plenty of appearances from Netflix era Marvel heroes to keep them sated in 2026.