The Punisher’s Solo MCU Series Just Got Way More Important

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The upcoming Punisher special is now even more significant for the Marvel Cinematic Universe following recent news about the character’s future. Bringing Frank Castle and his violent, dark world into the MCU was once seen as a long shot, given the stark contrast between his methods and the usual tone of the franchise.

The official confirmation that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil would join the main Marvel Cinematic Universe starting with Daredevil: Born Again was already big news. But recent updates suggest Punisher’s upcoming solo series, set for 2026, could be even more significant than initially thought.

The Punisher Not Being In Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 Makes The Vigilante’s Solo Series Even More Key

Credit: Giovanni Rufino /©Disney+/Marvel Studios /Courtesy Everett Collection

The Punisher was crucial in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again, initially forcing Matt Murdock to question his values during a difficult time, and later becoming a helpful partner when Matt resumed being Daredevil. However, it seems those roles won’t return in the show’s second season.

Sana Amanat, an executive producer on Daredevil: Born Again, told Empire (via Culture Crave) that Jon Bernthal won’t be back as Frank Castle (the Punisher) for the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. Instead, he’ll get his own standalone presentation in 2026 and will also appear in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie.

It’s disappointing that fans won’t see the Punisher and Daredevil team up against the Kingpin, now that he’s mayor of New York. However, this development is intriguing when considering the future of The Punisher special presentation.

By not needing to connect to the storylines of Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the upcoming Punisher series has more creative freedom to tell the best story for the character. This also makes Castle’s solo series feel even more important, as it currently appears to be the only other project besides Spider-Man: Brand New Day that will show what happens next in his life.

The Punisher’s Solo Series Is Even More Likely To Tie Into Spider-Man: Brand New Day If The Character Isn’t In Daredevil: Born Again

Before it was announced that Jon Bernthal wouldn’t reprise his role as the Punisher in season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, some fans thought the show might tie into the Spider-Man: Brand New Day storyline. This was because the release dates for both shows are relatively close – Born Again in March 2026 and Brand New Day in July 2026 – and both take place in New York City, featuring its resident heroes.

Currently, Frank Castle appears only in the PunisherSpecial Presentation and Spider-Man: Brand New Day scheduled for 2026. This makes a connection between these two releases much more likely. His absence from season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again suggests he won’t be active in New York during that time, and any explanation for this change in his status will likely be addressed in one of these releases.

Connecting the recent Punisher special with the Spider-Man: Brand New Day storyline could be tricky, given the Punisher’s typically mature and violent themes. However, it would be a great way to build a more connected Marvel Cinematic Universe and show how the franchise can successfully blend its newer, more adult heroes like the Punisher and Deadpool with its established, family-friendly characters.

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2025-11-23 20:31