‘Punisher: One Last Kill’ Finally Has a Release Date – See the Explosive New Look
Jon Bernthal is set to return as Frank Castle in the Marvel Special Presentation, Punisher: One Last Kill, which will premiere on May 12. The special drops on the same day as the Season 2 finale of Daredevil: Born Again, giving fans a full day of MCU action.
Bernthal first played the Punisher in Netflix’s Daredevil Season 2 back in 2016, going head-to-head with Charlie Cox’s blind lawyer-vigilante. Castle’s story as a military veteran seeking revenge after his family’s murder quickly made him a fan favorite, leading to his own Punisher series on Netflix, which ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019.
Sources tell Marvel and Disney+ fans that Bernthal’s Punisher has now fully joined the MCU, along with other Netflix street-level heroes like Cox’s Daredevil and Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones.
Frank Castle returns in A Marvel Television Special Presentation: The Punisher: One Last Kill May 12, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/4I3H10grXz
— The Punisher (@ThePunisher) March 24, 2026
After the end of the original Netflix shows, these characters slowly made their way back into the MCU. Cox’s Daredevil returned in Spider-Man: No Way Home, then appeared in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Echo. In 2025, he led the revival series Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, the first M-rated Marvel series, where Bernthal also reprised his role, teaming up with Cox to take down Wilson Fisk, played by Vincent D’Onofrio.
After the success of Born Again, which has already been renewed through Season 3, Bernthal was confirmed to star in his own Punisher special. But Marvel isn’t stopping there, sources reveal that Bernthal’s Castle will also appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day alongside Tom Holland. Other returning MCU favorites like Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and Michael Mando’s Scorpion, first seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming, will also appear in the film.
With Bernthal back in full Punisher mode, fans can expect plenty of action, revenge, and dark humor. The timing of the special with the Daredevil finale makes it clear Marvel is keeping the momentum going for their street-level heroes.
It’s exciting to see the Punisher fully integrated into the MCU after years in Netflix shows. Bernthal’s return promises a gritty and intense take on Castle that should feel different from the rest of the Marvel lineup. What do you think about Punisher coming back to the MCU? Share your thoughts in the comments.
