Jon Bernthal to headline Punisher special for Disney+ and Marvel

By Dan Girolamo Published February 25, 2025

Jon Bernthal stands as the Punisher and stares. — Netflix

Jon Bernthal has some more stories to tell as the Punisher.

Per EW, Bernthal will reprise his role as Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, for a Marvel special on Disney+. Reinaldo Marcus Green will direct the special from a screenplay he’s cowriting with Bernthal.

Recommended Videos

“It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story,” Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel Television, said to EW. “It’s so exciting.”

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Bernthal is set to reprise his role as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again season 1. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the plan is to release the Punisher special in 2026 alongside Daredevil: Born Again season 2.

The Punisher special will fall under the Marvel Studios Special Presentations banner. Marvel has released two specials on Disney+: Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.

Bernthal first appeared as Frank Castle in the second season of Netflix’s Daredevil. Castle becomes the ruthless vigilante known as the Punisher after gang members gun down his family. Bernthal went on to headline The Punisher, which ran for two seasons on Netflix from 2017 to 2019.

Jon Bernthal holds a gun in The Punisher. — Netflix

Disney’s integration of Netflix’s Marvel characters into the MCU remains a priority for the studio. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk/Kingpin are two main characters from Netflix’s Daredevil transitioning to Daredevil: Born Again, which premieres on March 4 on Disney+.

With Matt Murdock back in the MCU, it’s only a matter of time before Marvel considers adding more of Daredevil’s teammates from The Defenders, including Luke Cage (Mike Colter), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), and Danny Rand/Iron Fist (Finn Jones).

Topics

Entertainment Writer

Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…

Entertainment

What’s new on Disney+ in March 2025

Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Disney+ has had some pretty lean months as its parent company chases streaming profitability, and March is no exception. Marvel's highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again series, launching on March 4 with a two-episode premiere, makes this month different. Episodes 3 and 4 will follow weekly, but for some reason, Disney+ is dropping episodes 5 and 6 on the same day as well.
As big as Daredevil: Born Again is going to be this month, it pales in comparison to the impact that Moana 2 is going to make on March 12. The original Moana is a huge performer for Disney+, so much so that Disney canceled plans for a Moana series on Disney+ and turned it into Moana 2. Now, it's coming back to where it would have been in the first place.
There are still new episodes of Pixar's Win or Lose coming this month, as well as the premiere of David Blaine Do Not Attempt. Unfortunately, once Born Again, Win or Lose, and David Blaine Do Not Attempt are counted, there just isn't much new programming left to watch in March.
Our roundup of everything new on Disney+ in March 2025 can be found below, with our favorites highlighted in bold.

Do you need more suggestions on what to watch? We have guides to the best new shows to stream, the best shows on Disney+, the best movies on Disney+, and the best shows on Netflix.

Entertainment

First reactions to Daredevil: Born Again praise the return of Marvel’s dark hero

Daredevil stands in a lair in Daredevil: Born Again.

It's been nearly seven years since Netflix canceled the first Daredevil series after a three-season run. But as of next week, Daredevil: Born Again will officially restart the saga of Marvel's Man Without Fear, as Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) reunites with his eternal adversary, Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio).

The world premiere of the first two episodes of Daredevil: Born Again took place earlier tonight, and the first reactions are coming in on social media. For the most part, the early word is very positive. However, more than a few mentioned some questionable CGI in the episodes. Regardless, seeing these actors back in their roles alongside most of the cast from the previous Daredevil series has lead to almost universal praise for their performances.

Entertainment

When does 1923 season 2, episode 1 premiere?

Harrison Ford stands next to Helen Mirren in a cabin.

It's been two years, but the wait is finally over.

1923 returns for its second season this weekend. 1923 season 2, episode 1 — The Killing Season — premieres at 12 AM ET on Sunday, February 23, 2025. 1923 will stream exclusively on . The streamer offers two paid plans: Paramount+ Essential is $8 per month, and Paramount+ with Showtime is $13 per month.