Summary

Jon Bernthal's Punisher is joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day, sparking excitement among fans.
Production for the film is ramping up for a July 31, 2026 release date, bringing back Tom Holland as Spidey.
Rumors suggest Mark Ruffalo may also join the cast, alongside Zendaya and Jacob Batalon.

Fans have been waiting for years to see Jon Bernthal's Punisher finally appear on the big screen. Well, it's happening as the beloved star is joining the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Production on Spider-Man: Brand New Day is kicking into high gear, which makes sense if the film is going to hit its scheduled release date of July 31, 2026. Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is set to helm the picture, which will see Tom Holland return as Peter Parker for his seventh go-around in the Spidey suit. After struggling to get Andrew Garfield's Amazing Spider-Man films off the ground in the early 2010s, Sony teamed with Marvel Studios to bring the web-slinger to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To say the move has been a success for both Hollywood titans would be an understatement, considering 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home brought in $1.9 billion all by itself. Since joining the MCU in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland's Spider-Man has been the surest thing in the franchise outside the Avengers films (which he also starred in, as well). If Sony and Marvel have their way, Brand New Day will continue the wall-crawler's trend of lighting up the box office.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

The Hollywood Reporter is, well, reporting that Jon Bernthal is joining the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the Punisher. Bernthal joins fellow newcomer Sadie Sink, who joined the production back in March in an undisclosed role. Frank Castle isn't the only MCU character making their return alongside Tom Holland's Peter Parker, as Zendaya's Michelle Jones-Watson and Jacob Batalon's Ned Leeds are also set to star in some capacity. Given the state of Parker's world at the end of 2021's No Way Home—where every person on the planet forgot who he was thanks to Doctor Strange—it's anyone's guess as to how much screentime Zendaya and Batalon will have.

Jon Bernthal's Punisher Is Returning For More MCU Shenanigans In Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The rumor mill has been churning unrepentantly about Spider-Man: Brand New Day for months now. There has been speculation that Marvel and Sony were seeking a big-name actress to play a female villain, with Nicole Kidman's name being mentioned. On the flip side, some leaks claimed the main villain of the film would be Mr. Negative, who was also a primary antagonist in the 2018 PS4 video game Marvel's Spider-Man. Throw in the rumblings about Mark Ruffalo's Hulk also making an appearance, and you've got a blended smoothie of internet rumormongering that only the MCU can provide.

Given that both Spider-Man and the Punisher are street-level heroes who reside in New York City, it isn't all too surprising to see Bernthal's fan-favorite character show up in Brand New Day. The real question will be if he appears all by himself or if a certain devil-themed vigilante will also be joining him. Fans have been clamoring for Spider-Man to join Daredevil's anti-Fisk group of heroes alongside Jessica Jones and others for Daredevil: Born Again's second season. Granted, Tom Holland is an in-demand star with a hefty price tag for his services, so the likelihood of him cameoing in a Disney+ series isn't all that high, but fans can dream, right?

'We're Giving It Our All' Jon Bernthal Promises Fans A No Holds Barred Punisher In The MCU

The Punisher is getting a solo adventure in the land of PG-13 on Disney+, but the show's lead is giving fans a guarantee that it won't conform.

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By Ademilade Shodipe-Dosunmu

When push comes to shove, fans should be thrilled to see the Punisher and Spidey together on the big screen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Any other cameos will simply be icing on the cake.

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Release Date: July 31, 2026
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
Producers: Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O'Connor, Avi Arad, Louis D'Esposito
Prequel(s): Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home
Franchise(s): Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man