The Punisher to Headline Marvel Special

It’ll follow the character’s return in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and will work much like 2022’s ‘Werewolf by Night,’ albeit less of a standalone.

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel's 'The Punisher.' Photo: Netflix.

Preview:

Jon Bernthal will be back as Frank “The Punisher” Castle for a new Marvel special.
He’s also returning for ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’
Bernthal will co-write the special with ‘King Richard’ director Reinaldo Marcus Green.

Crime might not pay, but vengeance appears to be profitable for Disney going forward.

With Jon Bernthal’s tough nut vigilante Frank Castle –– also known as The Punisher –– back on our screens for next month’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ which will find him once more interacting with Charlie Cox’s blind lawyer-turned-super-sensory-hero Matt Murdock, Entertainment Weekly brings word that we can expect more from Bernthal in 2026.

Having established the tradition of one-off Marvel TV specials with 2022’s ‘Werewolf by Night’ (which saw Gael García Bernal as a hirsute creature battling other beasts and monster hunters, directed by composer Michael Giacchino) and the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’ (which James Gunn used to lead into 'Vol. 3'), we’ll now see another example featuring Bernthal’s character.

Daredevil: Born Again

"The devil's work is never done."

TV-MA1 SeasonsMarch 4th, 2025

Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk pursues his own... Read the Plot

It’s a big vote of confidence in both the character and Bernthal’s betrayal and shows that Marvel is willing to further explore other avenues for its characters. And The Punisher is certainly a popular comic book creation.

‘Born Again,’ meanwhile, revisits the Daredevil character as portrayed in the Marvel/Netflix series that ran between 2015 and 2018. After its initial episodes were filmed, Marvel decided to overhaul it creatively and bringing it closer in story to the Netflix run.

Dario Scardapane (who worked on the Netflix 'Punisher' series) is running the new ‘Daredevil’ show with ‘Moon Knight’ and ‘Loki’ Season 2 directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead leading the directing team.

What’s the story of the ‘Punisher’ special?

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel's 'The Punisher.'

Exact details of the story have yet to be revealed, but unless it’s a complete stand-alone, chances are it ties into the ongoing Castle story explored in ‘Born Again,’ so it’s perhaps not surprising that Marvel doesn’t want to spill too much.

But here’s what Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television, told EW:

“It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story. It’s so exciting.”

Castle will come back into Murdock’s life in ‘Born Again’ at the lawyer’s request because Matt needs help with something handled that he’s unwilling to do, and Frank naturally dives in all guns blazing.

The new story marks even more involvement for Bernthal than usual –– he co-wrote the new special’s script with filmmaker Reinaldo Marcus Green, and the latter will direct the one-off.

It’s just the latest collaboration for the actor and the director –– Green, who also made ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ worked with Bernthal on ‘King Richard’ (which starred Will Smith as the father of tennis star proteges Venus and Serena Williams) and TV crime miniseries ‘We Own this City.’

Who is the Punisher?

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel's 'The Punisher.' Photo: Netflix.

The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru and made his first appearance in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man #129’ in 1974 originally depicted as an assassin and adversary of the web-slinger.

The character is traditionally depicted as an Italian-American vigilante who employs murder, kidnapping, extortion, coercion, threats of violence, and torture in his campaign against crime.

On the big screen, he’s been portrayed by the likes of Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane and Ray Stevenson, while Bernthal played him in the second season of the Netflix ‘Daredevil’ series and in his own aforementioned titular show.

Here’s what Winderbaum said of Bernthal’s work:

“Bernthal is a generational actor. He’s incredible what he brings to all the roles he plays, but particularly Frank Castle. And he’s a great writer. He knows the character inside and out.... Also, I love Punisher, but I love Jon’s Punisher in particular. The idea that he’s in the MCU and can bring that to the greater universe, especially the more grounded street-level stuff, is a huge opportunity and, as a fan, the greatest thing ever.”

What of the other Marvel/Netflix characters?

(L to R) Krysten Ritter, Finn Jones, Charlie Cox and Mike Colter in 'The Defenders'. Photo: Netflix.

While Matt Murdock and his associated characters are returning for ‘Born Again,’ there hasn’t been much movement on the rest of the ‘Defenders’ line-up from the Netflix days, including Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones, Mike Colter’s Luke Cage, and Finn Jones’ Danny Rand/Iron Fist.

But Winderbaum has said that they might get their turn:

“I can’t say much. But I’ll tell you that It’s so exciting to be able to play in that sandbox... I can just say that all those variables taken into account, it is certainly something that is creatively extremely exciting and that we are very much exploring.”

When will the ‘Punisher’ Marvel special be on screens?

The current plan for the new special is for it to hit screens next year, around the same time as the second season of ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’ Which means we can expect plenty of Punisher content in 2026…

And the first season of ‘Born Again,’ which as mentioned includes Bernthal, kicks off on March 4th on Disney+.