The Netflix renaissance is no longer a phase—it’s a takeover. Fresh off the wave of positive response to the TV-MA Special Presentation The Punisher: One Last Kill, industry insider Daniel Richtman has reported that Marvel Studios is moving full steam ahead on a follow-up project for Jon Bernthal’s lethal vigilante.
While it’s currently unclear if this next step is another tight Special Presentation a full-scale limited series or a feature film, the narrative trajectory is obvious. One Last Killintentionally left Ma Gnucci on the board, setting up a comic-accurate turf war that will feature Frank shielding Sadie Sink’s mystery MCU character from the ever-present Department of Damage Control in Spider-Man: Brand New Day before heading up another Punisher project. And it looks as though whatever they project it is, it will feature one of Punisher’s most lethal villains.
Though he had a small role as Barry in Punisher: One Last Kill, fans were convinced that Jamal Johnson was actually playing the merc known as Barracuda in the special presentation. Thanks to an Instagram post from Johnson, it seems fans were indeed correct…and Johnson is teasing the potential for him to return in the role.
Introduced by writer Garth Ennis in the 2006 Punisher MAX series, Barracuda isn’t just one of the Punisher’s most formidable physical threats—he’s also one of the few villains who genuinely enjoys the chaos as much as Frank enjoys the punishment. Barracuda is the “anti-Punisher”—a military-trained killing machine who represents what Frank Castle might have become if he actually enjoyed the slaughter instead of viewing it as a tragic, solemn duty.
Bernthal has made it clear there’s more in the pipeline for the character and though he refuses to give it away, there’s plenty of news crumbs for fans to start imagining what’s next for The Punisher.
Writer Garth Ennis is widely credited with saving the Punisher from obscurity and defining the character for the modern era. Before Ennis, Frank Castle had been written as an angel of vengeance with supernatural guns—a direction fans hated. Ennis brought him back to basics in Welcome Back, Frank (2000). And now it seems clear that the Marvel Knights imprint–and it’s over-the-top action–will also define the next MCU iteration of the character.
Since 2017, Jon Bernthal‘s take on the Punisher has always been highly praised for its mature handling of PTSD and veteran reintegration, creating the most soulful on-screen version of the character. One Last Kill once again examines the trauma and tragic nihilism that fuels Frank Castle while also acting a vehicle for Castle’s eager violence. Equal parts John Wick, Dirty Harry and The Raid, Marvel Television’s latest Special Presentation is outrageously brutal but it is also exactly what it should be.
Set at a not quite clearly defined point in Castle’s life, One Last Kill picks up with Frank as he struggles to find purpose with his personal war having come to an end and is haunted at first but the ghosts of his family and then by the ghost of his own violence. As seen in Ennis’ MAX series, Frank’s internal world is a haunted house. Rather than allowing himself to heal–even when he recognizes his instability–he chooses to stay in a state of perpetual trauma.
The opening of the Special Presentation riffs hard on Ennis’ take on Frank, allowing his inner monologue to serve as the engine of the story. And in the presence of his former brothers in arms, it isn’t just a narration of events; it is a staccato, utilitarian checklist that reveals how he views the world through a tactical lens and his body as a weapon system that needs maintenance…and Frank hasn’t been maintaining his very well. As he did in Season 1 of The Punisher, Bernthal goes all in on Castle’s grief, agony pain and guilt.
One Last Kill, created by Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green, spends significant narrative currency exploring the Punisher’s pathos and it’s an unsettling excavation. The core of his pathos isn’t just that his family died; it’s that Frank Castle died with them. He didn’t just lose his wife and children; he lost his ability to exist in a civilized world. And at one point, Frank is ready to leave that world…until Judith Light‘s Ma Gnucci pulls him back in and, ultimately, gives purpose to The Punisher once again. Just as in Ennis’ run, however, Frank Castle doesn’t actually want to be the Punisher; he is simply the only person left who is willing to take out the trash.
While fans will revel in the savage and sanguinary action of the Special Presentation and rejoice at the promise of prospective punishment down the road, One Last Kill is deeply dark and disturbing. Castle doesn’t conquer his grief and evolve into a hero by the end of the short runtime; he reestablishes himself as The Punisher through the subsequent transformation of grief into a cold, mechanical purpose.
And it looks as though Bernthal‘s Punisher is just getting started.
As fans prepare to dive into The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+, a new report from The Direct is fueling speculation that this Special Presentation might be the final audition for a full-blown theatrical Punisher movie.
While the current project is a standalone, 40ish-minute Marvel Spotlight entry, the conversation is rapidly shifting toward Frank Castle’s big-screen potential—especially with Jon Bernthal already confirmed for a major role in this summer’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The Punisher: One Last Kill isn’t just another MCU spin-off; it’s a mission statement. Bernthal didn’t just return as the lead; he also co-wrote and executive produced the special alongside director Reinaldo Marcus Green. This level of creative involvement suggests Marvel is trusting Bernthal to define the adult tone of the character’s MCU future.
Moving forward. I think, speaking for myself, I know Jon, and I would love to make a movie, something that could go worldwide and be on screens everywhere. But obviously, that’ll be Marvel’s decision.
-Reinaldo Marcus Green
Green admitted that while One Last Kill is a streaming event, both he and Bernthal “would love” to see Frank Castle lead his own theatrical film. “Obviously, that’ll be Marvel’s decision,” Green noted, but emphasized that the demand for an R-rated theatrical Punisher has never been higher.
To be honest, I can’t speak to that. I don’t know what the plans are for the future of the Punisher. The only thing that we hope that we were able to accomplish is the demand for more if we were able to accomplish that. Hopefully Jon [Bernthal] and Marvel will come together to make something worthy of what the audience would want to see out of that character.
-Reinaldo Marcus Green
Following the success of Deadpool & Wolverine and the two TV-MA seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, Marvel Studios is reportedly no longer afraid of the R-rating in theaters. With Disney pivoting back toward theatrical releases and away from aggressive streaming slates, Frank Castle is the perfect candidate to lead a lower-budget, high-impact, R-rated Marvel Knights cinematic line.
Set both after the events of Netflix’s The Punisher Season 2 and during the events of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, One Last Kill will tee up Frank for his upcoming big screen debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
While the Special Presentation is designed to be standalone, it will certainly reference some of the events from both seasons of The Punisher and Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again. With that in mind, we present The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before The Punisher: One Last Kill.
The Complete and Definitive MCU Punisher Prep
If you have time to watch it all before you decide to stream One Last Kill, here’s everything to make sure you maximize your enjoyment. Though The Punisher did not appear in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, it is most certainly relevant since One Last Kill is set during it and explains what Castle was doing during the season.
If you start now, you can take it all in before the streaming debut of One Last Kill.
Essential Prep
Daredevil, Season 2 (2016)
🍅 81%
Episodes 1-4, 9 and 11
To understand the Punisher, you have to witness the tragedy that birthed him. While his debut in Daredevil Season 2 is packed with visceral action, its true importance lies in the ideological war between Matt Murdock and Frank Castle. In Episodes 1-4, we see Frank at his most raw, culminating in the “Penny and Dime” monologue that redefined the character for a generation. These episodes aren’t just backstory; they establish the “no-half-measures” code that puts him at odds with the current street-level heroes in Born Again. Furthermore, Episode 9 is the first piece of the puzzle for his relationship with Wilson Fisk, showing a mutual respect between two monsters that still haunts the MCU today.
The Punisher, Season 1 (2017)
🍅 68%
Episode 1
The 2017 premiere of Frank’s solo series, titled “3 AM,” is a masterclass in the War at Home. It shows Frank Castle attempting the impossible: quitting. By burning his gear and taking a sledgehammer to literal walls, Frank tries to bury the soldier. This episode is the essential spiritual predecessor to One Last Kill, which begins with Frank once again trying to find a life beyond the violence. It also sets up his showdown with Ma Gnucci–played by Judith Light–in the special presentation.
While you could skip straight to Born Again, Jon Bernthal and showrunner Dario Scardapane have been vocal in interviews (and the Born Again Official Podcast) that the Netflix shows are not only 100% canon but crucial to understanding the man and his mission.
The Punisher, Season 2 (2019)
🍅 61%
Episode 13
The Season 2 finale of the Netflix era serves as the definitive transition into the Frank we see in the 2026 specials. It is here that Frank stops running from his nature and accepts that he is a “man in the box.” By ending the season with Frank dual-wielding rifles against a street gang, the show signaled his transformation from a man seeking revenge to a vigilante seeking a purpose. This version of Frank—the one who accepts his role as a necessary evil—is the exact version that Mayor Fisk now uses as a boogeyman to justify his anti-vigilante task forces.
Pay close attention to the return of Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle. While Frank is the hammer, Curtis has always been the anvil Frank relies on to stay grounded. Frank is going to need every ounce of that Netflix-era humanity to survive, Ma Gnucci, a villain who is just as relentless as he is.
In this episode, Frank Castle’s return is triggered by the ultimate insult: the co-opting of his symbol. For years, the Punisher Skull had been adopted by a faction of corrupt NYPD officers—the very men Fisk uses to enforce his order. When Frank finally steps out of the shadows to confront these officers, it isn’t just about vigilantism; it’s about identity theft. He makes it clear that the skull isn’t a badge of authority or a trend—it’s a mark of a man who has lost everything and has nothing left to fear. This episode is crucial for One Last Kill because it establishes Frank’s current mission: cleaning up the mess his own reputation created. He isn’t just hunting criminals anymore; he’s hunting those who wear his face while breaking the law.
Episode 4 also serves as the first major reunion between Red and the Punisher in years, but the tone has shifted significantly since their rooftop debates. While they are still fundamentally at odds regarding the sanctity of life, there is a weary, veteran respect between them. Frank sees a Matt Murdock who is increasingly desperate and isolated after the loss of Foggy Nelson. In this episode, Frank acts as a dark mirror, forcing Matt to realize that the city Fisk is building has no room for “really good lawyers.” It sets the stage for Frank’s role in the One Last Kill special as the man who does what Matt Murdock can no longer afford to do: finish the job permanently.
Episode 9
Frank’s return in the first season of Born Again was a shock to the system. In Episode 9, we see a Frank Castle who has been forced to watch his symbol be co-opted by corrupt NYPD officers—a plot point that Bernthal has noted was a major inspiration for the One Last Kill special. This episode is crucial because it updates Frank’s status quo: he is no longer just a lone wolf; he is a witness to the systemic rot of Fisk’s New York. His confrontation with Matt about the death of Foggy Nelson provides the emotional fuel for his current state of mind, bridging the gap between his personal grief and his new civic rage. And, of course, One Last Kill will follow Castle after his escape from Fisk’s dungeon prison and explain his absence from Born Again Season 2.
If you are truly pressed for time, here’s a boiled-down “Must-Watch” list:
Daredevil Season 2, Episode 4 (“Penny and Dime”) — The emotional soul of the character.
The Punisher Season 1, Ep 1 (“3 AM”) — Frank’s return to his mission and his attack on the Gnucci crime family.
Daredevil: Born Again, Season 1, Episode 9 — To see his new MCU status quo and his escape from Fisk’s dungeon that once again sets him loose on the criminals of New York City.
About The Punisher: One Last Kill
The Punisher: One Last Kill stars Jon Bernthal, Judith Light, Jason R. Moore, Roe Rancell, Mila Jaymes, Nick Koumalatsos, and Colton Hill.
As Frank Castle searches for meaning beyond revenge, an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.
The Special Presentation was written by Jon Bernthal & Reinaldo Marcus Green. Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Sana Amanat, Jon Bernthal, and Reinaldo Marcus Green executive-produced.
The Punisher: One Last Kill debuts May 12th on Disney +.
Frank Castle won’t be appearing in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 but he won’t be far behind. Ahead of the streaming debut of the sophomore season of the Daredevil revival, Marvel has announced the release date for The Punisher Special Presentation along with an official title.
The Punisher: One Last Kill will drop on Disney Plus on May 12th, the same day as the Season 2 finale of Daredevil: Born Again.
Co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, the feature will follow Castle and see him take on Ma Gnucci, the head of the Gnucci crime family. In terms of MCU Punisher continuity, Ma Gnucci makes quite a bit of sense as an antagonist for the project given that Frank wiped out several members of the Gnucci Crime Family, including her son Tony, in Episode 1.01 of The Punisher, “3 AM.“
As Frank Castle searches for meaning beyond revenge, an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.
-Official synopsis for The Punisher: One Last Kill
Frank Castle returns in A Marvel Television Special Presentation: The Punisher: One Last Kill May 12, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/4I3H10grXz
Ma Gnucci tried to take Frank Castle out in Volume 5 of The Punisher, written by Garth Ennis. The 12-issue arc, known as “Welcome Back, Frank”, launched Ennis’ 49-issue run with the character and has long been hailed as a classic Punisher tale. Harboiled and gruesome, “Welcome Back, Frank” took the character back to his roots and allowed him to do what he does best: kill bad guys with extreme prejudice…and a flamethrower. If the Marvel Television Special Presentation takes any inspiration from Ennis’ arc, fans should prepare for an extraordinarily violent hour or so.
It’s going to be dark; Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness. It’s not going to be easy. I don’t know if that’s the Netflix tone then that’s what it’s going to be. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.
It’s going to be dark; Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness. It’s not going to be easy. I don’t know if that’s the Netflix tone then that’s what it’s going to be. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.
–Jon Bernthal on The Punisher Special Presentation
While talking about his role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which hits theaters on July 31, 2026, Bernthal stated that The Punisher will stream on D+ “around that same time.”
“Around that same time, there will also be this Punisher special that’s coming out, that I think will be as high-octane Punisher as you’ve ever seen,” said Bernthal. While it’s not officially confirmed that the special presentation is set before the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there’s enough evidence to support a reasonable assumption that it is, making a June or early-July streaming debut the most likely scenario.
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.
-Marvel Television Top Dog Brad Winderbaum
Co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, The Punisher will be the third Special Presentation to stream on D+, joining Werewolf By Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. All signs point to the feature being incredibly violent, which has caused some consternation about how the character could blend seamlessly into the world of a very friendly Wallcrawler. Bernthal addressed those concerns as well.
“I think what was really important to me and to Destin and to Tom is that we believed that The Punisher could walk off of the Spider-Man set and could walk onto the special set, and I do believe that we achieved that,” Bernthal explained. Without directly stating it, Bernthal seems to be implying that, as is the case in the comics–and with Daredevil’s appearance in She-Hulk Attorney at Law–characters can be malleable in order to fit the environment in which the story is set.
After sitting out the summer convention circuit, Marvel Studios will have a presence in the Big Apple this weekend where Marvel Television and Marvel Animation will provide an update on their respective upcoming projects. Per the official NYCC website, Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation will take place on Saturday, October 11th at 1:30 PM EST and feature “special guests” who will give “a look behind the scenes at Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ shows from Marvel Television and Marvel Animation.” What can fans expect? What should they not expect? Let’s think it through.
Part of the rebranding was a signal to the general audience that we’re creating a lot of options, and you can follow your tastes within this brand. Some will be more comedic, some will be more dramatic, some will be animated, some will be live-action.
-Brad Winderbaum
With Marvel’s streaming boss, Brad Winderbaum, having recently said that the studio was looking at viewership numbers before unleashing a second season of Marvel Zombies, it’s very possible that announcement could come at NYCC. The TV-MA show has been a hit, all but ensuring a return to the world run by the Dead Queen.
Speaking of second seasons, fans should certainly expect release windows and perhaps first looks at X-Men ’97 Season 2 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2, both expected to stream in 2026.
We will have a Spider-Man season every year if I have anything to say about it. What usually happens, as you know, in animation, is that there’s a bigger gap between Season 1 and Season 2 than in subsequent seasons, and that’ll be similar in Friendly. We will have to wait a little bit more than a year for Season 2, but then after that, it should come out on an annual cadence, hopefully.
-Brad Winderbaum
Given that animated projects are far easier to keep under wraps longer than live-action, it’s also possible that the studio could unveil a surprise on its 2026 streaming slate. With the success of X-Men ’97, fans have been hoping for Marvel to green light Spider-Man ’98 as a revival of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, though Winderbaum has done his best to temper expectations on that front. Still, animation holds incredible potential for Marvel, which is just only starting to be explored.
Marvel Television
More than any other of the studio’s divisions, Marvel Television has become a different entity since the Great Rebrand of 2024. As Winderbaum explained in a February interview with Screen Rant, the studio’s “priorities have shifted,” with the studio looking to produce “shows that can exist as annual releases, more like television.”
Unlike Daredevil: Born Again, the eight-episode Marvel Spotlight seriesWonder Man won’t be an annual release but it is a near-lock to be a major part of the NYCC panel. Very little is known about the project, which stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley and with it set to stream in December, fans should probably expect an updated logo to accompany a teaser trailer and a more defined release date. With its streaming debut 2-ish months away, the teaser may even be released online, allowing those not in attendance to catch a glimpse at what Winderbaum called “one of his favorite things ever.”
Another project shrouded in mystery, the Paul Bettany-led Vision series, will also likely be included in the presentation. After wrapping principal photography in the UK earlier this year, the studio should be up for sharing an official title, logo, artwork, release window and maybe a first look at some footage from the show, which is shaping up to be weird in all the best ways.
Marvel Television’s portion of the panel should also provide a logo, release window and synopsis for The Punisher Special Presentation that will serve as a bridge between Frank Castle’s last appearance in Daredevil: Born Again and his next appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The “shotgun blast of a story” was co-written by star Jon Bernthal and will be among the studio’s most highly-anticipated projects next year as it will likely feed the blood lust of the Netflixers.
Taken from what’s believed to be the last day of principal photography on ThePunisher Special Presentation, the photo–shared by Steve Sands–shows Bernthal‘s Frank Castle sporting a fresh fade and full tactical gear, including the iconic skull on his vest.
Co-written by Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green and believed to be inspired by Garth Ennis‘ 12-issue “Welcome Back Frank” arc, The Punisher Special Presentation will see Castle take on Ma Gnucci in what Bernthal promised would be a dark and brutal event sure to please Netflixers everywhere.
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.
–Brad Winderbaum on The Punisher Special Presentation
In terms of MCU Punisher continuity, Ma Gnucci makes quite a bit of sense as an antagonist for the project given that Frank wiped out several members of the Gnucci Crime Family, including her son Tony, in the first episode of Season 1 of Netflix’s The Punisher. It’s possible that’s exactly what Gnucci is reminding Castle of here as she’s pointing at him.
Given that it’s mid-day and they’re at a playground, it’s unlikely this scene turns into anything to intense but is rather likely to be Gnucci informing Frank that she’s coming for him. In the comics, that meant first sending the “Punisher Task Force” after him, followed by a trio of assassins and then, finally, The Russian. While there’s been no word of whether or not that character will appear, he would present a very formidable physical challenge to Frank and allow for some of that over-the-top violence Netflixers lust over.
The Punisher Special Presentation will stream on D+ in 2026.
As has been the case with both seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, The Punisher: Special Presentation is filming out in the open in the streets of New York City. As such, it is to be expected that plenty of plset photos, snapped by paps and the public alike, will make their way online and so far, that’s exactly how it’s played out.
The Special Presentation, co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, began principal photography earlier this week and it didn’t take long for images of a hard-boiled looking Frank Castle to make the rounds. While Castle was laying low on those photos, a trip of new videos show the former Marine back in action…and suited up in his iconic vest.
New look at Jon Bernthal on the set of 'THE PUNISHER' Special Presentation.
The action looks to be taking place in and around Gnucci’s Family Restaurant, owner by the rumored villain of the feature, Ma Gnucci. Though she’s yet to appear, Frank wiped out several members of the Gnucci Crime Family, including her son Tony, in Episode 1.01 of Netflix’s The Punisher. It’s likely that Ma would be out for vengeance and equally likely that Frank would be up for finishing the job.
The Punisher Special Presentation will debut on Disney Plus in 2026.
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