Jon Bernthal's 'The Punisher' Will Return in a New Disney+ Solo Special

Amid the onslaught of new Marvel movies and TV series that have premiered in the years since 2019's "Avengers: Endgame" wrapped up the Infinity Saga, viewers might feel a bit overwhelmed and struggling to keep up (if anyone's still interested in keeping up). But you might remember in 2015, Netflix launched a Marvel saga of its own, beginning with "Daredevil," then "Jessica Jones," "Luke Cage" and finally "Iron Fist." And along the way, viewers got a taste of actor Jon Bernthal as "The Punisher" -- and liked him so much, he got his own series.

When Netflix's rights to these characters expired, all of the shows moved to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+ -- and then basically sat there. But now, Disney is giving some of those characters a shot at a new life, beginning with "Daredevil: Born Again," which premieres March 4, 2025. Bernthal will appear as the Punisher in the new Daredevil series, but The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the actor is also writing a standalone special for the character.

For anyone who might be wondering why Berthal's Punisher was so compelling, check out the clip below (but be advised: there's some pretty harsh language).

The MCU character we know as the Punisher is Frank Castle, a former U.S. Marine Corps scout sniper and Iraq War veteran-turned-vigilante out for revenge against the people who killed his family. After exacting his violent vengeance, he goes after the criminal underworld of New York City, as if every thug, mob boss or crooked cop (or even private military contractor) personally wronged him. Not only is Bernthal's performance as Castle gripping, but the show is dark, gritty, violent and, above all, awesome.

We first saw Bernthal's version of the Punisher in the second season premiere of "Daredevil" in 2016. By 2017, he had his own series, which ran two seasons and was intertwined with Netflix's "The Defenders" saga. After those series ended, Charlie Cox's Daredevil/Matt Murdock still made appearances in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" and "Echo," leaving fans to wonder whether the Netflix characters were all part of the MCU or if Murdock was just an aberration. (All five of Netflix's shows can be found in the official Disney MCU timeline, with the first season of "Daredevil" coming after "I Am Groot." Here's how to watch the Defenders saga in order on Disney+.)

Other actors have portrayed the Punisher over the years, beginning with Dolph Lundgren ("Rocky IV") in 1989, then Thomas Jane ("Deep Blue Sea") in 2004 and finally Ray Stevenson ("Thor") in 2008's "Punisher: War Zone." Bernthal originally had "zero interest" in playing the Punisher, but Castle's backstory caught his attention.

"... When I got to know a little bit about this character ... He ain't got a f***ing cape. He ain't got any superpowers," the actor told GQ. "He's a f***ing tortured, angry father and husband who's living in this unbelievable world of darkness and loss and torment. Frank Castle resonates with me."

Since its original creation in 1974, the character has become a kind of barometer for American society's relationship with its military. Frank Castle was originally a Vietnam veteran, but the evolution (and longevity) of his story required an update for the modern era. In 2021, "Punisher" co-creator Gerry Conway said that his approach to societal problems has a direct appeal for both military and civilian alike.

"He takes with him a military code for accountability and responsibility and he is very much an objective oriented person," said Conway. "There's not a lot of room for nuance when you're in a firefight ... He in that sense has a certain appeal."

Bernthal is writing the script with Reinaldo Marcus Green ("Bob Marley: One Love"), who will also direct the special. It is currently scheduled to debut in 2026.

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