The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to making history. This is, after all, the franchise that has broke box office record after box office record, and the first to surpass $30 billion (currently at $31 billion and counting). It's also the same franchise that had audiences in tears after the heartbreaking ending of Avengers: Infinity War and upped the ante with the Infinity Saga-concluding Avengers: Endgame, which brought back the vast majority of MCU fan-favorites for the ride.
Now, it has officially welcomed the world of the Marvel Netflix shows under its umbrella, officially canonizing the series of shows that were only once loosely considered canon. Daredevil: Born Again was the full-circle moment we've been waiting for, confirming that the events of the previous Daredevil series (along with the rest of the shows within that Defenders-verse) now exist within the formerly family-friendly Marvel Studios franchise.
Speaking of those properties, Marvel is reportedly planning on making history once again with a new villain that could very well change the game for the franchise.
The Punisher will reportedly battle a female villain in Disney Plus Special Presentation
According to a new report from longtime industry insider Daniel Richtman, Marvel Studios is casting a female crime boss for upcoming Disney Plus Special Presentation The Punisher. It does not say who the villain will be nor does it reveal if the studio is interested in casting someone in particular, but Richtman has proven to be one of the most reliable scoopers in the industry today, so unless otherwise announced, we can assume that Jon Bernthal's Punisher will be going up against a female antagonist in next year's special.
This is history-making as it will mark the first time that The Punisher will battle a female villain. In the first season of the Netflix show, he went up against Ben Barnes' Jigsaw and Agent Orange, while season 2 saw him battle John Pilgrim. That also makes him the only character in the Netflix Marvel franchise not to have battled a female villain, as the other four heroes (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage) all faced off with Elektra, Alexandra Reid, and Madame Gao in The Defenders. It appears that this will all change when the Disney Plus Special Presentation streams in 2026.
Fans have already begun speculating as to who the female crime boss could be in the upcoming title, with the prevailing theory being that of Ma Gnucci. One of the character's archenemies in the comics, she is the head of a crime family who has consistently crossed paths with Frank Castle. There is no love loss between them in the source material, and there may not be in the live-action adaptation either. That's where the special could benefit from sharing continuity with the previous show here, as the Gnucci family is referenced (Tonny Gnucci is a minor antagonist in the first season) with the show never confirming who is at the head of the table. Now could be the time to pull that story thread.
Jon Bernthal originally appeared in the second season of Netflix's Daredevil and went on to headline his own series. The Punisher was one of the most violent of the Marvel Netflix shows (which were all admittedly very violent) and that's not surprising given that Frank Castle is a hardened vigilante who takes to the streets to unleash a bloody war on the criminals of the Marvel Universe.
Although the show was cancelled after just two seasons due to the end of the Marvel / Netflix deal, Bernthal reprised the role earlier this year in Daredevil: Born Again, officially being recognized as canon to the MCU in the process. He's expected to return in the second season next year while also headlining his own Special Presentation, which he will co-write (along with director Reinaldo Marcus Green).
Needless to say that fans were incredibly happy to see him back in the role in an official MCU product. Bernthal is The Punisher and this upcoming Special Presentation just gives us all another chance to see that fact for ourselves. Whoever he faces off against better be ready, for Hell hath no fury like Frank Castle.