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Why I’m Worried Jon Bernthal’s Punisher in Spider-Man May Ruin Both Characters

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For me, one of the most appealing aspects of the Marvel Cinematic Universe currently is the growth of Jon Bernthal’s character, Frank Castle, who has undeniably surpassed all other live-action portrayals of The Punisher. Watching him in Daredevil: Born Again was an absolute joy, and I’m thrilled that Bernthal will have his own Marvel Special Presentation spinoff following the post-credit scene from the finale. Additionally, learning that The Punisher is part of Spider-Man: Brand New Day has me really excited!

Soon enough, the initial excitement I felt began to dwindle, as a mix of puzzled wonder took over. Is it truly optimal to utilize Frank Castle in this way on the silver screen? And why is there a Punisher-Spidey alliance without Tom Holland’s Spider-Man ever engaging in combat with Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin?

Instead of continuing to ponder hypothetical questions, I’ll zero in on the two main issues troubling me regarding this specific crossover. Although a large portion of fan discussions have revolved around Marvel possibly toning down Frank Castle’s explicit language and aggressive actions for the kid-friendly Spider-Man sequel, this isn’t my primary worry.

The Punisher Needs Street-Level Storytelling, Not Multiversal Chaos

In terms of origin tales, there isn’t a more concise and gritty narrative than Frank Castle seeking vengeance for his family’s deaths, which marked the start of his life as a fearless vigilante. Despite having a long comic book background that has seen him involved in various types of major conflicts, the character portrayed by Jon Bernthal in live-action adaptations has always stayed grounded in reality.

Frank thrives best in the dimly lit streets of New York City due to his military background and intolerance for dishonesty. He’s exceptionally skilled with any weapon he’s given, but his physicality transforms into a weapon even when unarmed. His close-combat fights are as stunningly brutal as those displayed by Daredevil.

In contrast to the typical portrayal, Spider-Man films aren’t famous for scenes set on darkened streets or for depicting Peter Parker frequently attacking enemies from behind their legs. Instead, they delve into the emotional growth of Peter alongside complex science fiction narratives. This is evident in Tom Holland’s multiversal encounter with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Men in “No Way Home”. This isn’t the type of storyline that suits The Punisher well.

It’s uncertain what the upcoming film “Brand New Day” will focus on, but there’s a possibility it might veer away from the extensive storyline of the previous movie to concentrate on a more grounded, street-level narrative instead. However, Marvel seldom chooses smaller stories over larger ones for sequels, and given Spider-Man’s popularity and box office appeal, I find it unlikely that they would opt for a smaller-scale approach with him.

I Am Not Here For Jon Bernthal’s Frank Being Quippy With Peter Parker

In a hypothetical five-minute team-up between Marvel’s Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal, and Spider-Man, I’d enjoy seeing the intense Frank Castle trade witty banter with the chatty Peter Parker. However, it wouldn’t sit right with me if Punisher didn’t eventually send Spider-Man packing from his life of vengeance.

I must admit, I’m quite apprehensive about Frank potentially spending more screen time acting as a sounding board for Peter’s self-deprecating humor. If this scenario results in Spider-Man and the Punisher clashing after Frank grows frustrated, I’m all for it!

Fundamentally, I’m not keen on Jon Bernthal’s gritty character being placed in a softer setting within the MCU solely for a “fish out of water” narrative. Instead, I’d prefer Frank (Bernthal’s character) to encounter extraterrestrial aliens or participate in an absurd fighting competition, as opposed to storylines heavily dependent on Marvel-centric humor. While Bernthal was amusing in ‘The Accountant 2’, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Frank Castle would tolerate Peter’s jokes.

To put it simply, hearing about Jacob Batalon’s character Ned Leeds transitioning from Spider-Man films to becoming Frank Castle’s sidekick in a fresh Punisher series definitely piques my interest! While I might not be as keen on other characters venturing into Frank’s world, his presence would certainly lure me to the cinema when the movie premieres.

The upcoming Spider-Man movie, titled “Brand New Day,” is planned to be filmed after “Avengers: Doomsday.” It’s already scheduled for release on July 31, 2026, in the year 2026’s movie lineup.

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2025-06-28 01:09

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