18 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have provided fans with no shortage of exciting team-ups on the big screen: The Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers crossed paths towards the end of the Infinity Saga, Tom Holland's Peter Parker met his multiversal versions in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Logan and Wade Wilson finally had the chance to meet during the events of Deadpool & Wolverine. However, one of the most unlikely crossovers ever is yet to come.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to feature the appearance of many iconic MCU characters. Audiences will finally witness the Hulk go back to his savage ways once more, while it's been reported that Yelena Belova and Claire Temple will also have a role to play. Furthermore, Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle will finally make his theatrical debut, aiding the wall-crawler in the journey ahead.
Fans had a small glimpse of Spidey and the Punisher's relationship courtesy of the first Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer. Now, the man behind the mask, Tom Holland, has given us an exciting tease of what lies ahead for these two beloved Marvel characters.
Tom Holland says Spider-Man and the Punisher could become a recurring duo
During an interview with Collider, Tom Holland revealed that one of the highlights in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the dynamic between Peter Parker and Frank Castle. Furthermore, he stated that it wouldn't be surprising if the two cross paths many times in the future:
"I think one of my favourite aspects of this new film is the relationship between The Punisher and Spider-Man. It’s no secret that I absolutely love Jon Bernthal, and sharing the screen with him and building this new onscreen relationship was so fun. What is in the film is very different to what was on the page, and I’m so grateful to Destin for giving us the freedom to play with it and create something really special. I wouldn’t be surprised if Spidey and the Punisher become a recurring duo."
On paper, it's easy to imagine that an honest-to-goodness hero such as Spidey wouldn't get along with a cold-blooded killer like Frank Castle. As such, we'll likely see the two reluctantly team up to fight a bigger threat before an uneasy "bond" is formed. This could mirror the relationship between Daredevil and The Punisher, as the two characters fought each other before becoming a bit of a volatile duo.
Jon Bernthal revealed that this version of the Punisher will remain authentic to what audiences have seen from the character so far. Furthermore, Frank won't be "looking for a buddy" or "a hand to pull him out of the hole that he's in" in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. So the question then becomes: Why will he join forces with someone like Spider-Man?
It has been reported that a supervillain will use the Savage Hulk as a diversion to keep Spider-Man and the Punisher entertained. Naturally, Frank won't be able to go toe-to-toe with such a destructive force of nature on his own, which is where Spidey will likely come in. But even between the two, we can't imagine it will be an easy battle.
A very important thing to highlight from Tom's comments is the idea that Spidey and the Punisher could become a "recurring duo" moving forward. Rumor has it that Marvel is planning to make a big street-level crossover movie featuring the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Spider-Man, and Frank Castle. If that were to be the case, then Brand New Day could just be the beginning of bigger (and more explosive) events to come.
With just under two months to go before the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it won't be long before Sony releases a second official trailer. With a bit of luck, it will give us an even better glimpse into Spidey's and the Punisher's relationship (and perhaps a quick look at the two fighting).
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on Jul. 31, 2026.
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