Marvel Studios is getting ready to bring back one of its most intense characters with a special presentation that breaks new ground. The Punisher special, starring Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, will run for 60 minutes when it arrives on Disney+ later this year. This makes it the longest Marvel Studios Special Presentation to date, giving fans a full hour of the vigilante’s brutal world.
The project was written by Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green, who also worked together on King Richard and We Own This City. Filming took place over 12 days in New York City during July and August 2025. The special will continue the story of Frank Castle following his return in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1.
A Full Hour of Punisher Action
The runtime confirmation came from a Writers Guild of America listing, which officially listed the project as a 60-minute live-action production for Disney+. This beats out the previous special presentations—Werewolf by Night at 53 minutes and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special at 42 minutes. For fans who have been waiting to see more of Frank Castle since his Netflix series ended in 2019, getting a full hour dedicated to the character is a welcome change.
The special is positioned as the third Marvel Studios Special Presentation within the MCU, sharing continuity with the films and other Disney+ series. It will release around the same time as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which hits theaters in July 2026. Bernthal mentioned that the special connects directly with his appearance in the Spider-Man film, saying he wanted audiences to believe the Punisher could walk off the Spider-Man set and onto the special set.
What the Story Will Cover
Plot details remain mostly under wraps, but set photos and production information have given fans some clues about what to expect. Filming in Queens, New York, showed a building exterior with signs for “Gnucci’s Family Restaurant,” which points to the appearance of Ma Gnucci and her crime family. This connects back to the “Welcome Back, Frank” comic book storyline from 2000, one of the most beloved Punisher arcs ever written.
Marvel Studios head of streaming Brad Winderbaum described the project as “a shotgun blast of a story” while still carrying the emotional weight expected from a Frank Castle story. Bernthal has been clear about the tone, promising that the special will not be watered down for Disney+.
“It’s going to be dark. Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness. It’s not going to be easy. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that. I think it’s the version that this character deserves.” – Jon Bernthal to The Hollywood Reporter
The actor also mentioned that the special will present a “visceral, psychologically complex, unforgiving, no-holds-barred version of Frank” where violence carries real consequences. Bernthal brought in former Marine Raider Nick Koumalatsos, who helped him train for Daredevil: Born Again, as a consultant on the special.
A Controversial Scene Has Fans Talking
During filming in Queens, a set video captured what appears to be a scene involving a dog’s death. The video, posted by Instagram user @elderordonez1, shows gangsters walking with a real dog that is later swapped for a fake one held by Bernthal’s character. The scene has drawn mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing frustration about including such content.
The set video received over 13,000 likes on Instagram, with many fans commenting on the potential impact of the scene. Some viewers said they would not watch if the scene made it to the final cut, while others questioned the purpose of including a dog’s death in the story.
This is not the first time a Marvel project has taken risks with animal-related content. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 faced similar discussions when it showed the deaths of Rocket’s animal friends. Whether this scene remains in the final version of The Punisher special is still unknown.
Cast and Creative Team
Jon Bernthal leads the cast as Frank Castle, returning to the role he first played in Netflix’s Daredevil Season 2 back in 2016. He then starred in two seasons of The Punisher from 2017 to 2019 before the series was canceled. Bernthal first returned to the character in Daredevil: Born Again Season 1, which released in 2025.
Supporting cast members include Jason R. Moore, who reprises his role as Curtis Hoyle from the Netflix Punisher series. Curtis is a close friend of Frank Castle and a former U.S. Navy SARC who leads a therapy group for veterans. Roe Rancell also appears in a role listed as Dennis.
Reinaldo Marcus Green directs the special and co-wrote the script with Bernthal. The cinematography comes from Robert Elswit, whose previous work includes There Will Be Blood and Nightcrawler. Michael Shaw, who worked on both seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, served as production designer.
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Release Details
The Punisher special will stream on Disney+ in 2026, with reports pointing to a summer release alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The exact date has not been announced yet. The special is intended to receive a TV-MA rating, matching the mature tone of the Netflix series.
Bernthal will also appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, marking his theatrical debut as the character. The film stars Tom Holland and Zendaya and will feature a showdown between Spider-Man and the Punisher. The actor explained that the special and the film are designed to connect, with the character’s portrayal remaining consistent across both projects.
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