Jon Bernthal Brings Punisher to Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Jon Bernthal, widely recognized for his portrayal of the no-nonsense vigilante 'The Punisher' in multiple Marvel TV shows, is set to star in the latest Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Sharing the screen with lead actor Tom Holland, Bernthal's inclusion promises a grittier take on the usually light-hearted superhero storyline. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the movie is slated for a July 31, 2026 release.

The film's plot remains largely under wraps, with rumored villain characters spanning from mafia bosses to alien creatures. The appearances of MJ and Ned, played by Zendaya and Jacob Batalon respectively, are confirmed, but their roles' extent is yet to be disclosed. Notably, Sadie Sink from Stranger Things will also be making their debut in the Marvel universe with this film.

Bernthal's vigilante character, known for battling adversaries with conventional weaponry rather than high-end tech or mystical powers, may indicate a more grounded narrative angle. Bernthal initially appeared as Frank Castle, or the Punisher, in Marvel's Daredevil series on Netflix, thereafter leading two seasons of his own series. He also made a comeback to Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.

Marvel plans to further leverage Bernthal and his popular character in the future. The Punisher will return in the second season of Born Again, and Bernthal will co-script a standalone Punisher movie for Disney+. However, navigating the character's violent, R-rated nature in the generally family-friendly Spider-Man series will surely be an intriguing task.

Bernthal and Holland share a congenial history with their Marvel roles, assisting each other with their audition tapes while working on the 2017 film Pilgrimage. Besides his Marvel commitments, Bernthal has starred in The Accountant 2 with Ben Affleck and appeared in the Rami Malek's thriller, The Amateur. Bernthal is represented by CAA and Sloane Offer.