‘The Punisher TV Special’ Finds Its Villain: Filming Date & Location Revealed

Marvel is bringing back Jon Bernthal’s Punisher for a new TV special, and fans now have a better idea of what to expect. The special is being made for Disney+ and is planned to arrive in 2026.

Reinaldo Marcus Green, who previously worked with Bernthal on We Own This City, is both writing and directing the project, teaming up once again with Bernthal to shape the story.

According to Nexus Point News, filming is set to kick off in New York around mid-July and will last until early August. This production will begin shortly after Daredevil: Born Again season 2 wraps up, making it possible for Bernthal to jump straight from playing Frank Castle in that show into this new special. This timeline keeps him active in the Marvel world throughout 2026.

Right now, there aren’t many confirmed story details. However, sources suggest that the special will follow Frank Castle after escaping from a private prison run by Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin. If true, this could put Punisher back in full action, likely seeking revenge or justice in his own brutal way.

There’s also word that the villain for this special has been found. Back in May, well-known insider DanielRPK shared that Marvel was casting a female crime boss. Nexus Point News has now backed up that report and says that casting is still going on for the role.

The character is rumored to be Ma Gnucci, a violent and powerful mob boss from the Punisher comics. If she is included, it would bring one of Castle’s most dangerous enemies to live action for the first time.

This new special will be part of Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation series on Disney+. So far, only two others have been made: Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. These are shorter than full series or films but still tie directly into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

When it comes out, this will be Bernthal’s fourth time playing the Punisher in the MCU (well, technically, since Defenderverse is now part of the MCU). He first appeared in Daredevil on Netflix, then starred in The Punisher series. He’s come back again in Daredevil: Born Again, and after this special, he’ll make his big-screen debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is scheduled to be released on July 31, 2026.

The Punisher has always stood apart from other Marvel heroes with his dark, violent methods. That edge is a big part of why fans love him, and this special seems ready to lean into that. With Bernthal returning and a strong creative team behind him, expectations are already high.

Marvel hasn’t said much officially yet, but this new special could be a key piece of Phase Six, giving more focus to street-level stories in the MCU.

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