Jon Bernthal’s Punisher Joins Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Get ready for a darker turn in the MCU’s web-slinging saga. Jon Bernthal is officially set to reprise his fan-favorite role as Frank Castle, the Punisher, in the upcoming fourth Spider-Man film starring Tom Holland. Titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, this highly anticipated movie promises to integrate the gritty, street-level vigilante into Peter Parker’s world for the first time on the big screen.
Bernthal first donned the skull vest in the critically acclaimed Netflix series Daredevil in 2016, quickly becoming a standout character before leading his own two-season spin-off, The Punisher. His return marks a significant bridge between the former Netflix Marvel shows and the main Marvel Cinematic Universe narrative. Earlier this year, Bernthal reprised the role in the Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again and is expected for its second season, with a standalone Punisher Disney+ special also in development for 2026.
What We Know About Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be Tom Holland’s fourth solo outing as Peter Parker. Following the massive success of Homecoming, Far From Home, and the nearly $2 billion-grossing No Way Home, expectations are high for this new chapter. Director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for helming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is set to direct.
While specific plot details remain tightly under wraps, the film is confirmed to take place chronologically after the mind-bending events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the world’s memory of Peter Parker being Spider-Man was magically erased. Tom Holland himself described Brand New Day as exactly that – a “fresh start” – at CinemaCon earlier this year, acknowledging the significant cliffhanger from the previous film.
Production is slated to begin in England during the summer.
Cast, Tone, and the Punisher’s Integration
The inclusion of the Punisher strongly suggests a potentially more grounded and mature tone for the film compared to previous installments. Frank Castle operates outside the realm of superpowers and high-tech gadgets, relying on brutal, non-superpowered methods against criminals. This street-level approach could pave the way for deeper connections to other gritty MCU characters like Daredevil and Kingpin. However, integrating Bernthal’s established R-rated portrayal into the typically PG-13 Spider-Man universe presents an intriguing creative challenge.
Alongside Holland and Bernthal, familiar faces Zendaya (MJ) and Jacob Batalon (Ned) are expected to return, although the extent of their roles post-No Way Home‘s events is unknown. New confirmed cast members include Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Liza Colón-Zayas. Fan speculation is already swirling about their potential roles.
Interestingly, Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland share a history, having worked together on the 2017 film Pilgrimage. Bernthal has publicly shared how they helped each other with their respective Marvel audition tapes during that time, long before their characters were set to collide on screen.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026. The addition of Jon Bernthal’s Punisher brings a compelling and intense dynamic to the franchise, hinting at an exciting new direction for the wall-crawler.
