Jon Bernthal is officially returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. As reported by Deadline on June 20, 2025, Bernthal will join the fourth installment of the Spider-Man franchise, set for release on July 31, 2026.

Tom Holland, who reprises his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, teased the upcoming movie in a special video message shared during CinemaCon on March 31, 2025.

“I know we left you with a massive cliffhanger at the end of No Way Home, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a fresh start. It is exactly that. That’s all I can say,” Holland remarked.

This film marks Jon Bernthal’s cinematic debut as the Punisher within the MCU, though he’s previously portrayed the character in various Marvel TV series.

Who’s Joining the Cast?

Bernthal will star alongside returning cast members Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Zendaya (MJ), and Jacob Batalon (Ned). Also joining the ensemble is Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, whose role remains under wraps.

Filming is expected to begin in London in summer 2025. The story will pick up following the events of No Way Home, where Peter Parker’s identity was wiped from everyone’s memory. While the first three Spider-Man films were directed by Jon Watts, this installment will be helmed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

A Reunion for Bernthal and Holland

This isn’t the first time Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland have worked together. The two co-starred in the 2017 historical drama Pilgrimage, directed by Brendan Muldowney. During a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live (April 18, 2025), Bernthal fondly recalled their early days:

“We did a film about seven or eight years ago. That was where both Tom did his audition for Spider-Man and I did mine for Punisher. We actually made each other’s audition tapes on that film,” he revealed.

Bernthal even joked that he pushed Holland to include a double backflip in his audition video and half-seriously claimed credit for Holland landing the role.

Bernthal’s Legacy as the Punisher

Jon Bernthal first donned the Punisher’s skull-emblazoned armor in Netflix’s Daredevil Season 2 (2016), followed by his own solo series, The Punisher, which ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019. He recently returned to the role in 2025’s Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.

In addition, Marvel has announced a Disney+ special presentation centered on Bernthal’s Punisher, expected to premiere in 2026. Bernthal shares co-writing credit on the special with director Reinaldo Marcus Green, indicating a deeper creative involvement in the character’s development.

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle is poised to make a fierce and cinematic return—bringing his gritty, justice-driven energy into the heart of the Spider-Man universe.