Frank Castle is returning to the spotlight. After making his MCU comeback in Daredevil: Born Again, Jon Bernthal will once again reprise his role as The Punisher in a brand-new Marvel Studios Special Presentation on Disney+. Following the success of earlier specials like Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, this project promises to bring a darker, grittier tone to the MCU’s Phase 6.
When Will The Punisher Special Release?
Marvel has confirmed that The Punisher special will debut in 2026, though an exact date has not yet been revealed. Early reports suggest it will premiere around the same time as Daredevil: Born Again season 2, which is scheduled to arrive on Disney+ in March 2026. If that timeline holds, fans can likely expect the Punisher’s standalone story to drop in spring 2026, with a trailer expected sometime in late 2025.
The Punisher Cast: Who’s Returning?
At this stage, Marvel has only officially confirmed one cast member:
- Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / The Punisher
However, set photos strongly suggest more returning faces and new additions:
- Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle, Frank’s trusted ally, has been spotted filming.
- Rumors point to the arrival of Ma Gnucci, a notorious Marvel Comics villain, though her actress has not yet been announced.
As filming wrapped earlier in 2025, Marvel is expected to reveal more names closer to the release date.
The Punisher Special Plot: What Do We Know?
While Marvel has not released an official synopsis, on-set details and comic book references give us a clear picture of what to expect:
- The Gnucci Crime Family: Set photos revealed the presence of Gnucci’s Restaurant, teasing the introduction of Ma Gnucci, who seeks revenge against the Punisher after he kills her sons in the comics.
- After Born Again: The last time fans saw Frank Castle was in Daredevil: Born Again episode 4, where Matt Murdock confronted him over criminals misusing his skull symbol. The special may explore Frank’s battle not only against gangs but also against violent imitators tarnishing his image.
- A Spider-Man Tie-In: Marvel has confirmed that Punisher will also appear in Spider-Man 4: Brand New Day, suggesting the special could serve as a bridge to Peter Parker’s next big-screen adventure.
Jon Bernthal himself has reassured fans that this will not be a watered-down version of the character:
“It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be light, and I think it’s the version that this character deserves. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.”
Where to Watch The Punisher Special
The special will be available exclusively on Disney+, streaming worldwide. Like previous Marvel Special Presentations, it is expected to run about one hour, making it a self-contained but significant entry in the MCU.
Final Thoughts
The upcoming Punisher special has all the ingredients to be one of Marvel’s boldest small-screen projects yet — a gritty crime story, a fan-favorite antihero, and the setup for future MCU events. With Jon Bernthal back in the role, expectations are sky-high that Marvel will deliver the brutal, uncompromising Frank Castle story that fans have been waiting for.
Are you excited to see The Punisher return to the MCU in his own special? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to InvestRecords.com for the latest Marvel updates.