Unreleased photos of Jon Bernthal fully suited as Frank Castle (The Punisher) have taken over the internet, giving Marvel fans their first look at the iconic vigilante’s long-awaited return. The striking images, reportedly from a scrapped Daredevil: Born Again promo shoot, tease the brutal, grounded tone Marvel intends for its new street-level era.
With The Punisher Special Presentation now confirmed for Disney+, and Bernthal also appearing in Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel’s most violent antihero is officially back — and the first images make one thing clear: Frank Castle is coming home.
The Return of a Legend
The images — first shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user @variablelace — show Bernthal in an updated tactical suit that keeps the white skull insignia, black armour, and worn gear fans loved from the Netflix era.
The photos feature multiple combat poses: one where Castle grips a bloodied axe under a spotlight, another where he crouches, aiming down his rifle with military precision. One of the most striking shots shows him shouting mid-swing with a hammer, capturing the unrestrained rage that defines the Punisher’s psyche.
The visuals, though minimalist, speak volumes. They encapsulate the tension and grief of a man fighting a personal war — a war that the MCU is finally ready to confront head-on.
“There’s a little bit of Frank Castle in everybody,” Bernthal told Collider. “He exists very strongly inside me, and I care about that character deeply. It’s essential that if we do it, we do it right — with real sacred integrity to what’s at the core of Frank.”
The Punisher’s Evolution in the MCU
Bernthal first brought Frank Castle to life in Daredevil Season 2 (2016), instantly redefining the character for modern audiences. His portrayal was raw, emotional, and terrifyingly human — a Marine veteran tormented by loss and trauma.
That success earned him a solo series, The Punisher (2017–2019), which explored moral gray zones and post-war PTSD in ways superhero TV rarely dared.
When Netflix’s Marvel universe ended, fans feared Castle was gone forever. But in 2023, Marvel Studios confirmed Bernthal’s official return for Daredevil: Born Again, part of the MCU’s renewed “street-level saga,” alongside Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin.
Frank Castle’s On-Screen Journey
| Year | Title | Platform | Character Arc |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Daredevil Season 2 | Netflix | Introduced as a vengeful Marine targeting criminals; clashes with Daredevil. |
| 2017–2019 | The Punisher (Seasons 1–2) | Netflix | Explores PTSD, morality, and the cost of revenge; evolves into an antihero. |
| 2026 (upcoming) | Daredevil: Born Again | Disney+ | Returns to New York; allies uneasily with Daredevil against Fisk’s anti-vigilante task force. |
| 2026–2027 (expected) | The Punisher Special Presentation | Disney+ | Solo MCU project exploring Castle’s psychological warfare and redemption arc. |
A “Shotgun Blast of a Story” — Marvel Confirms the Special Presentation
Marvel’s Head of Streaming, Brad Winderbaum, confirmed that The Punisher Special Presentation grew out of Born Again’s production discussions.
“Jon Bernthal is a generational actor who knows the character inside and out,” Winderbaum said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “The Punisher Special Presentation is a shotgun blast of a story — brutal, emotional, and deeply human.”
He emphasized that Castle’s arc in the MCU will honor the darkness and depth of the Netflix version but evolve it to fit Marvel Studios’ cinematic storytelling.
“Frank Castle’s story is about rage, loss, and redemption,” Winderbaum added. “We’re leaning into that while connecting him to the larger street-level world of Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Echo.”
Creative Forces Behind the Return
The new Punisher project is a reunion of talent familiar with hard-hitting realism. Bernthal co-wrote the script with Reinaldo Marcus Green (We Own This City, King Richard), who will also direct the special.
Behind the scenes, Dario Scardapane — a former Punisher writer and current Born Again showrunner — ensures continuity between Netflix’s tone and Marvel’s new chapter.
This collaboration signals Marvel’s intention to keep the mature, grounded tone that made The Punisher resonate with veterans, law enforcement, and real-world audiences.
Key Creative Team Behind The Punisher Special Presentation
| Role | Name | Previous Work |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Actor & Co-Writer | Jon Bernthal | The Punisher, We Own This City, Fury |
| Director | Reinaldo Marcus Green | King Richard, We Own This City |
| Showrunner (Linked Project) | Dario Scardapane | Daredevil: Born Again, Jack Ryan |
| Producer | Brad Winderbaum | Echo, Werewolf by Night |
| Studio | Marvel Studios / Disney+ | — |
| Genre | Action Thriller / Crime Drama | — |
The Punisher’s Legacy: A Hero for the Broken
For decades, Frank Castle has stood apart from Marvel’s pantheon of heroes. Unlike Iron Man or Captain America, he doesn’t seek glory or redemption — only justice through pain.
Bernthal’s version of Castle captured that paradox perfectly — portraying a man both unstoppable and irreparably wounded. His performance drew praise from veterans’ groups and first responders who saw their trauma mirrored on screen.
“Frank Castle’s story isn’t about glorifying violence,” Bernthal once said. “It’s about a man who’s lost everything and doesn’t know how to live with that loss. The Punisher doesn’t wear a cape — he carries the weight of grief.”
This humanization of the character — grounded in pain, not power — is what made the Netflix adaptation iconic. The MCU, aware of this legacy, is reportedly ensuring that the new Punisher remains morally complex rather than sanitized for younger viewers.
The MCU’s Street-Level Rebirth
Marvel’s next phase leans hard into realism. After years of cosmic multiverses and superhero spectacles, Born Again, Echo, and The Punisher promise a gritty, noir-like cinematic universe centered around Hell’s Kitchen, New York.
This “street-level” reboot reconnects the MCU with its human core — battered heroes, corrupt institutions, and moral dilemmas. The Punisher will reportedly anchor this darker phase, potentially uniting characters like Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Spider-Man in future crossover events.
Production & Release Outlook
Filming for Daredevil: Born Again resumed in 2025 under Scardapane’s supervision after a creative overhaul that brought Bernthal back into the story. The Punisher Special Presentation is set to begin shooting in early 2026, targeting a late-2026 or early-2027 release window on Disney+.
Insiders suggest the project will follow the Werewolf by Night format — a feature-length one-off (around 60–80 minutes) packed with cinematic storytelling and standalone closure.
“It’s not a prelude or epilogue — it’s its own contained beast,” said one Marvel insider. “You’ll see Frank Castle like never before — unfiltered, unforgiven, unstoppable.”
Streaming the Legacy
Fans who want to catch up before the new era begins can stream all three seasons of Netflix’s Daredevil and both seasons of The Punisher, now available on Disney+. The inclusion of these mature-rated shows on the platform signals Marvel’s growing willingness to balance adult themes with mainstream storytelling.
Final Takeaway
Frank Castle is back — and he’s not pulling punches.
After years of uncertainty, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher stands poised to redefine Marvel’s mature storytelling with the same grit, heart, and emotional ferocity that made him a legend. The leaked photos aren’t just a preview — they’re a promise that this time, the skull means business.
FAQs
Yes. The stills originated from early promo shoots for Daredevil: Born Again and have since circulated widely across social platforms.
Absolutely. Bernthal reprises his role in both Daredevil: Born Again and The Punisher Special Presentation.
Reinaldo Marcus Green (We Own This City) is directing, with Bernthal co-writing the script.
Marvel executives, including Brad Winderbaum, confirm that it will retain its “brutal, emotionally charged tone,” staying true to Castle’s violent roots.
Filming is expected in 2026, with a global premiere likely in late 2026 or early 2027 on Disney+.
