Jon Bernthal is returning as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, in the upcoming film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The film, part of the Sony/Marvel collaboration, is set to begin shooting this summer in England. 
Bernthal’s portrayal of the brutal vigilante will bring his ultra-violent character into the MCU’s PG-13 Spider-Man universe, a notable shift from the darker, more intense tone seen in his Netflix and Disney+ series.
While Bernthal’s Punisher has never appeared in a Marvel film before, this isn’t his first time in a live-action role as Frank Castle. He has previously starred in the Daredevil series and his own solo series, The Punisher, where his portrayal of the character garnered significant attention for its gritty realism. His role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to explore new interactions with Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland. Interestingly, Bernthal and Holland have shared the screen before in the 2017 movie Pilgrimage, and Bernthal recently shared that he gave Holland some advice during auditions for their respective Marvel roles.
The film will also see the return of Zendaya as MJ and Jacob Batalon as Ned, while the talented Sadie Sink joins the cast in an undisclosed role, with rumors swirling that she may play Jean Grey from the X-Men universe. Additionally, Liza Colón-Zayas from The Bear has been cast, sparking speculation that she might portray Miles Morales’ mother, Rio.
As the film explores new possibilities for these iconic characters, the integration of Bernthal’s Punisher into the lighter tones of Spider-Man’s world is an intriguing challenge. Fans are eager to see how the brutal Punisher fits into the MCU, and how his storyline will intertwine with the already established heroes and villains in Spider-Man’s universe.