The second season of Daredevil: Born Again ended on May 5, 2026, with an action-packed finale that saw Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) reveal his secret identity in court to take down Wilson Fisk. But many viewers were left wondering one thing after the credits rolled: Where was Frank Castle?
The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) played a big role in Season 1, helping Matt escape from Fisk’s prison. Yet he was nowhere to be seen throughout all of Season 2. The finale did not show Frank Castle at all, not even in a post-credits scene. Instead, fans got a different Netflix-era reunion when Luke Cage (Mike Colter) walked through a door to reunite with Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) and their daughter. While that moment excited long-time viewers, it did not answer the question about the Punisher.
Why Frank Castle Skipped ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2
So why was the Punisher absent for an entire season? According to showrunner Dario Scardapane, the decision was all about story, not scheduling conflicts. Jon Bernthal had a very specific vision for where he wanted to take Frank Castle after the ending of the Punisher series on Netflix.
“I know that Jon had been talking to the people at Marvel and had a very specific idea in mind about what happened to Frank after the end of the Punisher series.” – Dario Scardapane to Variety
Scardapane explained that Bernthal did appear briefly in Season 2 for a couple of “eye-popping” scenes, but saving the character for his own project made more sense. Vincent D’Onofrio, who plays Kingpin, also joked about the absence on social media, saying that if Bernthal was not busy making his own Punisher film and “hangin with that insect” (likely referring to Spider-Man), they would have loved to have him in Season 2.
Episode 8 Sets Up ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’
While Frank did not show up in the courtroom or on the streets of New York in the finale, his shadow loomed over the final episode. The Season 2 ending directly sets the stage for his standalone special, The Punisher: One Last Kill, which arrives on Disney+ on May 12, 2026.
Here is how the finale connects to Frank’s story:
- Matt Murdock is in jail. After revealing himself as Daredevil, Matt is arrested and sent to prison. The showrunner confirmed that Season 3 will feature Matt behind bars. In the comics, Matt often crosses paths with Frank Castle in prison or while Frank is taking out criminals. Frank operates best when the system fails, and with Matt locked up, a team-up makes sense for the next season.
- Frank is hiding. The timeline for One Last Kill takes place immediately after The Punisher Season 2 and runs parallel to the events of Born Again Season 2. Scardapane told Variety that the special tells the story of “what happened next” after the Netflix show. During Season 2 of Born Again, Frank is laying low, staying off the radar of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force.
- The special is a bridge. The Punisher: One Last Kill is not just a random side story. It is a Marvel Television Special Presentation that will explain why Frank returns to violence. The official description states that as Frank searches for meaning beyond revenge, “an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.” That fight will likely continue into Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July 2026, where Frank has already been spotted in trailers working with Peter Parker.
What to Expect in ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’
Fans will not have to wait long to see Bernthal back in the skull vest. The Punisher: One Last Kill debuts exclusively on Disney+ on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. In the United States, it drops at 9:00 PM Eastern Time and 6:00 PM Pacific Time. For viewers in the UK, that means May 13 at 2:00 AM BST. In India, it will be available on Disney+ Hotstar on May 13 at 6:30 AM IST. Australia viewers can watch it on May 13 at 11:00 AM AEST.
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The special stars Jon Bernthal and is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. Bernthal co-wrote the script with Green, ensuring the character stays true to his gritty roots.
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