Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is a fan-favorite vigilante-hero of the Marvel universe. His tragic life and his excruciatingly painful origin story are what connect people to his character, Frank Castle. Making his debut in the Netflix version of Daredevil, starring Charlie Cox, he soon got his own Netflix show, which ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019. He was last seen in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again (Disney’s reboot of the Netflix series) as Punisher.

Now, he is set to once again reprise his role, but not in Daredevil season 2, but as Frank Castle for The Punisher: One Last Kill.

Jon Bernthal, who made a comeback in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, is returning for his Marvel Special Presentation, The Punisher: One Last Kill, which will premiere on May 12, 2026, the same day as Daredevil: Born Again Season 2's finale on Disney+. Marvel Studios' television, streaming, and animation head, Brad Winderbaum, first mentioned the special to be underway in February 2025, with filming commencing in July through to August 2025. 

The TV special, exclusive to Disney+, will create history for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the longest special from the studio ever. A Writer's Guild of America listing states that the next Punisher special will be 60 minutes long, longer than any other special that the studio has released so far. Notably, Marvel has released two special presentations till now, both in 2022 - The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (42 minutes) and Werewolf by Night (53 minutes). 

The television special, which is written by Bernthal and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, will carry on Castle's story that has its roots in the Netflix series Daredevil and The Punisher. Supporting actors Mila Jaymes, Roe Rancell, and Jason R. Moore will join Bernthal in the special. Interestingly, Jon Bernthal came up with the idea for the special while filming Daredevil: Born Again in 2025.

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Additionally, Jon Bernthal has previously spoken in an interview about the upcoming special and what fans can look forward to.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Jon Bernthal reassured fans that despite the switch from Netflix to Disney's platform, the new hour-long special, The Punisher: One Last Kill, will remain true to the adored anti-hero reputation. 

“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,” Bernthal said in the interview. 

So, according to what Bernthal teased, Punisher will return to the screens in his full glory, remaining ever raw and gruff just like old times. The actor also hinted at the special's connection to his appearance in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, releasing on July 31. This means audiences will be seeing Punisher more than once this year and in different projects. Until July, however, one can anticipate a solo The Punisher: One Last Kill before the 'brand new day' hits the screens. 

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Are you excited about seeing Jon Bernthal in Punisher: One Last Kill? Let us know in the comments.