What Was ‘Really Important’ To Jon Bernthal And Tom Holland As They Brought The Punisher Into Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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The upcoming Marvel movie schedule is a bit strange right now. While Spider-Man: Brand New Day would normally be a major event, it’s being overshadowed by Avengers: Doomsday. Although Spider-Man won’t have as many heroes as the Avengers film, it will still feature special appearances – we already know Jon Bernthal will be playing the Punisher.

Ever since he first appeared, The Punisher has been known for his brutality, making many think an R-rated adaptation would be a natural fit. However, fans questioned how that intensity would translate into a PG-13 Spider-Man movie. In an interview with ScreenRant, Jon Bernthal, who played The Punisher, reassured fans that everyone involved was committed to maintaining the character’s core identity in Brand New Day. He explained…

Around the same time, a Punisher special is coming out, and it’s going to be a really intense, action-packed take on the character. It was important to me, Destin, and Tom that the Punisher we established in the Spider-Man series felt consistent with the Punisher in this special, and I think we successfully achieved that continuity.

Jon Bernthal has indicated the upcoming Punisher special on Disney+ will stay true to the character fans love. His return in Daredevil: Born Again was a highlight for viewers, and the only complaint was that we didn’t get to see enough of him.

Everyone wondered how a gritty, intense Punisher character, played by Jon Bernthal, would fit into a more family-friendly Spider-Man movie. Fans immediately expressed this concern when rumors surfaced about Bernthal’s casting. It’s clear from what Bernthal has said that the filmmakers shared those concerns during production of Brand New Day and were actively working to balance the two tones.

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While the Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day will likely be less violent to fit a wider audience, he can still feel like the same character. Clever action sequences can maintain the gritty, intense feel fans expect, and any necessary changes for a PG-13 rating can be handled smoothly so they aren’t noticeable.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always had to balance the different styles of its various properties, and for the most part, it’s done a good job. Given that we’ve seen Daredevil portrayed both as a serious, dark hero in Daredevil: Born Again and in a more comedic light in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to see the Punisher and Spider-Man team up successfully.

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2026-01-15 21:38