First Look at Jon Bernthal in the New Punisher Suit Revealed
Jon Bernthal is stepping back into the role of Frank Castle, and fans just got their first peek at his brand-new Punisher suit. The shot comes from Instagram user stevesandsnyc, who shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the streets of New York City where the special is filming.
First look at Jon Bernthal in the new Punisher suit ☠️
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) August 5, 2025
📷 stevesandsnyc | IG pic.twitter.com/TRHUlK0nQ4
This upcoming Marvel Studios project is an untitled Punisher special that will stream on Disney+. It’s part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be the third release under Marvel’s “Special Presentation” banner.
It’s also the second MCU project focused on the Punisher, following the 2017–2019 Netflix series The Punisher. This time, Bernthal isn’t just starring, he’s co-writing the story with director Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Bernthal has already returned as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again, which started streaming in 2025. While working on that series, he came up with the idea for a standalone Punisher special. Marvel liked what he pitched and asked him to develop it further. “I really want to earn this and I really want this to be good,” Bernthal said, explaining that Marvel held him to high standards every step of the way.
Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ head of streaming, called the Punisher an “icon” and said Bernthal’s take on the character has been important for the franchise. He also teased that the special is “a shotgun blast of a story, but [it] also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story.”
Bernthal promised that this will not be a watered-down version. “This is the version that this character deserves… the visceral, psychologically complex, unforgiving, no-holds-barred version of Frank where he’s going to turn his back to the audience. And nothing is easy and all violence has a cost, and we’re going to see that cost.”
Filming began in mid-July under the working title Jolly Roger. Crews have been spotted shooting scenes in Queens on Jamaica Avenue and in Brooklyn near Green-Wood Cemetery. One location featured a sign for “Gnucci’s Family Restaurant,” which is likely a nod to Ma Gnucci and the Gnucci crime family from the Punisher comics.
Fans have already seen plenty of set leaks, including hints about who the main villain might be, though Marvel hasn’t made anything official. Along with acting and writing, Bernthal brought in his friend Nick Koumalatsos, a former Marine Raider who helped him train for Born Again. Koumalatsos is working as a consultant to make the action feel authentic.
Marvel has confirmed the special will carry a TV-MA rating, suggesting a darker and more intense tone. Winderbaum said the story will explore how the Punisher’s drive for pain, revenge, and justice shapes his actions. Bernthal says he’s thankful Marvel is letting him explore the character’s harsh and emotional depths.
The Punisher special is set to hit Disney+ in 2026 as part of Phase Six of the MCU. Until then, fans can hold onto the leaked set photo of Bernthal in his striking new suit and prepare for what could be the most brutal take on Frank Castle yet.
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