Marvel has once again set fans abuzz with news that Jon Bernthal—known for The Accountant, The Bear, and Daredevil—will reprise his role as The Punisher aka Frank  Castle in the highly anticipated film Spider‑Man: Brand New Day. This will mark the Punisher’s first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the big screen. While Bernthal has played the Punisher before in the television series The Punisher (2017), the upcoming Spider-Man film will be his first appearance in a Marvel feature film. Spider‑Man: Brand New Day will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, with Tom Holland returning as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. The film begins production this summer in England and is set to release on July 31, 2026.

Bernthal also appeared as the Punisher in Netflix’s Daredevil and continued the role in Disney+’s Daredevil: Born Again. According to Deadline, he was reportedly developing a standalone Punisher special for Disney+ and has been confirmed to return in Born Again Season 2 before the Spider‑Man film debuts. Tom Holland has credited Bernthal with helping him shape his audition for Spider‑Man; the two starred in Pilgrimage in 2017 and exchanged feedback during filming.

However, balancing the Punisher’s violent, R-rated portrayal with a PG-13 Spider‑Man film presents a notable challenge. The inclusion of the Punisher may signal a shift in tone toward a more street-level, gritty story, in contrast to the multiverse-heavy No Way Home.

Returning cast members include Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned with newcomer Sadie Sink joining in an undisclosed role. Rumors of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk appearing have also begun to circulate. While major plot details remain under wraps, the title Brand New Day likely hints at a fresh direction for Peter Parker in the MCU post-No Way Home.