Marvel’s First Official Look At Punisher’s Next Appearance Fixes Daredevil: Born Again Disappointment

The Punisher fans finally know when Frank Castle will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the reveal makes up for a Daredevil: Born Again disappointment. Marvel’s 2026 release slate is a big one for the studio, as the MCU sees the return of its biggest movie franchises. One of them will mark the big screen debut of Jon Bernthal as the Punisher.

Frank Castle is one of the players in Spider-Man: Brand New Day‘s cast, with the MCU movie’s first trailer teasing the fun dynamic between Bernthal’s Punisher and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. However, before then, Frank Castle will be the star of another upcoming MCU release — his own Special Presentation. After a long wait, Marvel has officially confirmed when fans will see the Punisher again.

The Punisher’s MCU Return Finally Revealed

So far, Marvel has released two Special Presentations: Werewolf by Night, on October 7, 2022, and James Gunn’s The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, on November 25, 2022. Now, 2026 is finally bringing back that format, with Jon Bernthal leading The Punisher: One Last Kill. The special, which Bernthal co-wrote, will be available to stream on Disney+ on May 12.

Bernthal has great creative input on the 2026 MCU release, as The Punisher: One Last Kill‘s director is Reinaldo Marcus Green, who helmed HBO’s 6-part crime thriller series We Own This City, which starred Bernthal. The duo reunited to write the next step of the Punisher’s journey in the MCU, continuing his story after escaping from Kingpin’s underground prison in Daredevil: Born Again season 1.

How The Punisher: One Last Kill Makes Up For Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Disappointment

After the first season of the MCU’s new Daredevil series ended, it seemed like a safe bet that Bernthal would return as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again season 2. However, with the reveal of his role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and as the lead of his own Marvel Special Presentation, it became increasingly unlikely that it would come to pass.

Now, MCU Wilson Fisk actor Vincent D’Onofrio explained why the Punisher is absent from Daredevil: Born Again season 2. According to the star, Bernthal was simply too busy with his two 2026 MCU appearances to have time to return to the Marvel series. Had he been available, the team behind the Daredevil show would have gladly written Frank Castle into the story.

While that makes sense, it is still disappointing not to see the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again season 2. Thankfully, given how The Punisher: One Last Kill releases a week after season 2’s finale, and it even shows up in Daredevil: Born Again season 2’s official release schedule, there is a chance the two projects could be connected.

Perhaps Daredevil: Born Again season 2’s finale could lead into The Punisher: One Last Kill. That said, even if that does not happen, the new Marvel announcement already helps make up for the Punisher‘s season 2 absence. After all, fans will not have to wait long at all for the character to return to the MCU after the new season airs its final episode.