Marvel is about to unleash a surprise special focused on its most dangerous “hero”!
Marvel fans are excited for the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again season 2. The return of Charlie Cox as the Man Without Fear clashing with Mayor Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) is already a big deal. It’s bigger, as it will feature the return of Krysten Ritter as Private Eye Jessica Jones.
Now, Marvel and Disney have confirmed that Jon Bernthal will return as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in a new special, Punisher: One Last Kill. It will premiere on May 12, one week after the Born Again season 2 finale.
There’s no word yet on the plotline, although the special is co-written by Bernthal himself along with Reinaldo Marcus Green, who also directs it. The cast is small, with the other big star being Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle, a former soldier who, after losing his leg, now runs a support group.
It’s another great return for the character, who’s long been Marvel’s top anti-hero. He was actually one of the first Marvel characters to get the big-screen treatment with a 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren and then a 2004 entry starring Thomas Jane. Ray Stevenson also took on the part for 2008’s Punisher: War Zone.
This special marks the latest stage in what many fans agree is the best take on the character who’s already become an MCU favorite.
Why this special works for The Punisher
The MCU version of the Punisher debuted in season 2 of Netflix's Daredevil series. It kept close to the comics, as Frank Castle was a former soldier whose family was murdered in a mass shooting that was the fallout of a failed mob sting operation. That broke Frank to the point of taking on criminals with no problem using lethal force.
Jon Bernthal’s performance won over fans, and earned the Punisher his own two-season spinoff on Netflix. The character returned in Born Again's first season and is set to cameo in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The special’s title is a bit foreboding, making it sound like Frank is going after one more target before either quitting or going out in a blaze of glory. Rumor abounds that the special may use Ma Gnucci, a mob boss who was a foe of the Punisher in the comics. It may be a shocking move to kill off the lead character, but fans would feel it fitting given Frank is already dead inside without his family.
It’s likely the special is a good way to use the character, as it allows him to cut loose in an adventure rather than drag it out over several episodes. The Punisher remains a captivating character for his war on crime, and Bernthal is amazing, showing his tortured soul and desire for justice.
We’ll have to wait to learn more and if this is indeed the end of the road. However, at least for one night, the Punisher is prepared to keep on fighting, and fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
The Punisher: One Last Kill premieres May 12, 2026, on Disney+.