Jon Bernthal is officially bringing Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, into the cinematic orbit of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. The upcoming film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to hit theaters on July 31, 2026, marks a gritty new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — and a long-awaited crossover that promises fireworks. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), the film picks up after the reality-altering events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Doctor Strange’s spell erased Peter Parker’s identity from the world’s memory.
With Peter now navigating a lonelier, more grounded existence, the arrival of The Punisher hints at a darker, street-level tone for the franchise. Bernthal’s return as Castle is a major moment for fans of Marvel’s Netflix era. After debuting in Daredevil and headlining two seasons of The Punisher, Bernthal reprised the role in Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+. Now, he’s stepping into the big leagues of the MCU film slate — and he’s not coming quietly.
Joining Holland and Bernthal are returning cast members Zendaya (MJ) and Jacob Batalon (Ned), though it remains to be seen how — or if — their characters will reconnect with Peter. Also joining the ensemble is Stranger Things star Sadie Sink in a mysterious new role. And here’s a fun twist of fate: Bernthal and Holland actually helped each other land their Marvel roles while filming the 2017 movie Pilgrimage. According to Bernthal, he even encouraged Holland to throw in a backflip during his Spider-Man audition — a move that may have sealed the deal.
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel seems poised to blend the emotional weight of Peter Parker’s journey with the raw intensity of Frank Castle’s crusade. One thing’s for sure: the neighborhood just got a lot more dangerous.
Mandy Parker
From a long line, family of geeks, author of several unpublished geek girl books, writer for @BleedingFool. Recovering Game of Thrones fan, life-time Tolkien fan.
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