As per the latest updates, Jon Bernthal is officially suiting up as Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day—his first appearance in a Spider-Man feature film.
With Jon Bernthal’s Punisher making his first appearance in the MCU’s Spider-Verse, this crossover represents a significant turning point for Marvel. Brand New Day stands out as one of the most anticipated superhero team-ups to date because of its cast, which strikes a balance between new and legacy talent, and its street-level direction, which will highlight Spidey’s origins.
Cast & Crew Highlights
- Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, joined again by Zendaya (MJ) and Jacob Batalon (Ned).
- Sadie Sink (from Stranger Things) and Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear) are also on board, though their roles remain undisclosed.
- The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) with a script by Erik Sommers & Chris McKenna.
- Filming begins in England this summer, gearing up for a July 31, 2026 theatrical release.
Bernthal as Frank Castle
- Bernthal first brought Frank Castle to life in Netflix’s Daredevil (2016), followed by his own Punisher series (2017–2019).
- He reprised the role in the Disney+ reboot Daredevil: Born Again (2025) and is co-writing an upcoming Punisher special directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, slated to premiere in 2026.
Bernthal helped Tom Holland land the Spider-Man role—on the set of the film Pilgrimage, he encouraged Holland to include an acrobatic stunt (a wall-run and double backflip) in his audition, advice Holland credits for sealing the part.
What to Expect in Brand New Day
- The title signals a fresh start after No Way Home, with Peter rebuilding as a street-level hero without tech or support.
- Inclusion of Punisher—possibly alongside Hulk (rumored)—suggests a gritty, urban tone rather than cosmic scale.
Filming for Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025 in England. The film is expected to be released in July 2026, following the releases of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and the Punisher special earlier that year.
Where to watch Marvel's The Punisher (2017)
