Jon Bernthal Returns as The Punisher in Disney+ Special: ‘One Last Kill’
Jon Bernthal is reprising his role as Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher, in a new special presentation coming to Disney+ on May 12, 2026. Titled The Punisher: One Last Kill, the special will debut on the same day as the Season 2 finale of Daredevil: Born Again, according to Deadline.
From Netflix to the MCU
Bernthal first gained recognition for his portrayal of The Punisher in the Netflix series Daredevil (Season 2, 2016). He subsequently headlined two seasons of the standalone Punisher series on Netflix, which ran from 2017 to 2019. The character, a former U.S. Marine driven to vengeance after the murder of his family, wages a one-man war on crime, targeting those he believes have escaped justice.
A New Special Presentation
The Punisher: One Last Kill is described as being in the vein of other Marvel Television Special Presentations, such as Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Deadline reports. Bernthal co-wrote the special alongside Reinaldo Marcus Green, who too directed.
Expanding the Marvel Universe
Bernthal’s return as The Punisher began with a guest appearance in Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again (2023). He will also appear in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, later in 2026. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, which features Bernthal alongside Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, launched on March 24, 2026, with weekly episodes (excluding a double-episode release on March 31st), Variety confirms. Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Ayelet Zurer, and Wilson Bethel also reprise their roles in Daredevil: Born Again.
Beyond Marvel
Outside of his work in the Marvel universe, Bernthal has had notable roles in television series such as The Walking Dead and The Bear, Collider notes.
The Punisher: One Last Kill will premiere on Disney+ on May 12, 2026.