Summary

The Punisher will be restricted and toned down in Spider-Man: Brand New Day due to Marvel Studios aiming for a PG-13 rating.
This will be many people's first exposure to The Punisher, potentially impacting interest in the character moving forward.
Marvel might struggle to get the best out of The Punisher in the movie, leading to concerns about his portrayal and long-term future.

It has all but been confirmed that Jon Bernthal will be reprising his role as The Punisher in the upcoming Marvel Studios movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has fans excited. It will mark the first time the character has appeared in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, and there is a lot of potential for how he could be implemented and his interactions with Tom Holland's Spider-Man.

He's not the only character being injected into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, either. Hulk is also expected to be part of the movie, which will begin shooting this summer. However, while the focus is on the positives that The Punisher will bring to the movie, it could negatively impact him as a character.

RUMOR: Spider-Man: Brand New Day To Feature Three Established MCU Characters

Marvel Studios is reportedly set to add three other established stars from the MCU into Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

Marvel Studios Will Restrict The Punisher Due To The Age Rating

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Will Likely Be A PG-13 Movie

Frank Castle on a carousel in The Punisher

Something many people haven't considered is that Marvel Studios will be forced to tone down The Punisher a lot in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Until this point, Bernthal's presentation of the character has been rated R, whether in his own Netflix series or the recent appearance he made in Daredevil: Born Again. That has allowed him to provide the violent, aggressive, and angry version of The Punisher that people typically want to see. This character has been shown in the comics over the years, and it is how to get the best out of Frank Castle. People expect to see him being hard-hitting to the point of brutality with his fighting style, but that might not be possible in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While Marvel has pushed the boundaries with its age restrictions lately for Deadpool & Wolverine, and Daredevil: Born Again, it's doubtful that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will go beyond a PG-13 rating, which means The Punisher will have to be shown differently.

He comes from the streets where darkness and violence are the norm, and that is the setting that fans want from The Punisher. It's why he easily fits into Daredevil: Born Again and why audiences want more from Bernthal's character. However, he will have restrictions to deal with when it comes to this portrayal, which will present some distinct challenges that he's not had to overcome until this stage. His violent fighting style will have to be toned back, as Spider-Man movies do attract younger audiences who won't want to see tons of blood, gore, or torture, which have been staples of The Punisher in the past.

The Punisher Is Going To Be Tamed Down In Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Marvel Might Not Be Able To Get The Best Out Of The Character

Marvel fans have been excitedly debating how The Punisher might end up being involved in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and what role he could play in his MCU debut. However, the fact that Marvel Studios isn't going to be able to get the best out of the character truly is a shame. While the restrictions will help the movie, it begs the question of why The Punisher has been added if he is not shown accurately. It will create a contrast when fans watch other appearances from the character in the MCU, which could be problematic for those projects. However, when it comes to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there might be a few frustrated Punisher fans when they realize he isn't going to be the same badass that has been shown previously.

A Poor Showing For The Punisher Might Impact Interest In Him Moving Forward

This Will Be A Lot Of People's First Exposure To The Punisher

Even though Bernthal has played the character of The Punisher for many years now due to his appearances in the Netflix Marvel shows, and his recent role in Daredevil: Born Again, this will be many people's first exposure to the character. People might have heard of the name or seen Bernthal on a poster or trailer, but a Spider-Man movie commands much more attention than any Marvel television show ever will. Spider-Man is one of those characters that stretches out into pop culture and will draw in fans who don't watch every single MCU project. That means that Marvel needs to get the perfect presentation of The Punisher, as this opens the possibility of making him a significant part of the franchise moving forward if audiences respond positively to him.

If fans are given a character to care about and invest in, they will naturally be more inclined to watch future content that involves him. Whether that's his own television show or a potential solo movie, Marvel Studios can push a brand new star by showcasing him correctly. However, that's what makes the restrictions so frustrating for many people. However, The Punisher is presented in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and that might not end up happening as there's a risk he could be seen as bland. He doesn't have any superhuman abilities, but his incredible fighting style and aggressive attitude make him so interesting, which will have to be toned down here. While it might not hurt Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it could negatively impact The Punisher's long-term future as he could end up falling into a similar role that Hawkeye did, where he's seen as a side character, not a leading man.

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Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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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