Jon Bernthal will join Tom Holland in the upcoming “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” marking The Punisher’s first appearance in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. The movie, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, is set to begin filming in England this summer with a release date of July 31, 2026.
Bernthal, who first portrayed Frank Castle (The Punisher) in Netflix’s “Daredevil” series before starring in his own show, recently returned to the role in Disney+’s “Daredevil: Born Again.” His jump to the big screen follows a similar path to Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, who made his film debut in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
The casting reunites Bernthal and Holland, who share a unique history. While filming “Pilgrimage” in 2017, the actors helped each other prepare audition tapes for their respective Marvel roles, creating what many fans are calling a “full circle moment.”
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continues Peter Parker’s story after the events of “No Way Home,” which ended with the world forgetting Peter Parker’s identity. Holland described the new film at CinemaCon as “a fresh start” following the “massive cliffhanger” of the previous movie.
Similar Post
The inclusion of Bernthal’s Punisher suggests a shift toward a more grounded, street-level tone for the Spider-Man franchise. The Punisher is known for his brutal approach to justice, often using lethal force against criminals – a stark contrast to Spider-Man’s more idealistic methods.
This dynamic mirrors their relationship in Marvel comics, where The Punisher actually debuted as a Spider-Man villain in 1974. Their opposing philosophies on crime-fighting – Peter’s belief in redemption versus Frank’s uncompromising vengeance – has created dramatic tension throughout their comic history.
Bernthal has been vocal about maintaining the character’s edge. For his return in “Daredevil: Born Again,” he insisted on preserving the “visceral, psychologically complex, unforgiving” nature of The Punisher. How this intensity will translate to the typically PG-13 Spider-Man films remains to be seen.
Marvel is clearly investing in Bernthal’s portrayal of The Punisher. Beyond “Brand New Day,” he’s confirmed to return for “Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2 and is co-writing a standalone Punisher special for Disney+.
The film will see the return of familiar faces alongside Holland, including Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned. New additions to the cast include Sadie Sink from “Stranger Things” and Liza Colón-Zayas from “The Bear” in undisclosed roles. Reports also suggest Mark Ruffalo may appear as Bruce Banner/Hulk.
Written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who worked on previous Holland Spider-Man films, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” represents the continued collaboration between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios.
The title references a 2008 comic storyline that served as a reset for the Spider-Man character – fitting for a film that follows Peter Parker’s complete identity erasure in “No Way Home.”
With production beginning this summer and a 2026 release date, fans have plenty of time to speculate how The Punisher will interact with Spider-Man, and how the film will balance the darker elements of Frank Castle’s character with the more optimistic world of Peter Parker.
