[Watch] Jon Bernthal Delivers Emotional Farewell on ‘The Punisher’ Special Set

The Punisher is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a brand-new way. A special television presentation is in the works, bringing Jon Bernthal back as Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher.

This upcoming special, which still doesn’t have an official title, will stream on Disney+ in 2026. It’s part of Marvel’s Phase Six and will be the third project released under the “Marvel Studios Special Presentation” label.

This new project is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and was written by both Green and Jon Bernthal himself. It’s not the first time they’ve teamed up, they previously worked together on King Richard and We Own This City.

Bernthal first returned as the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again, which started airing in 2025. While working on the first season of that series, he came up with the idea for a standalone special focused entirely on his character. According to Marvel Studios, Bernthal pitched the idea himself and made it clear he wanted to earn it.

“I really want to earn this and I really want this to be good,” Bernthal said. “They didn’t just hand it to me… they held me accountable to every step along the way.” Brad Winderbaum, Marvel’s Head of Streaming, TV, and Animation, confirmed in early 2025 that the project was officially in development. He also said the Punisher means a lot to Bernthal and called his version of the character an “icon.”

Filming started around mid-July 2025 in New York City. The working title during production was Jolly Roger. Scenes were shot in several locations, including Jamaica Avenue in Queens and near Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

A few signs spotted on set—like one for “Gnucci’s Family Restaurant”—seemed to hint at references to the Gnucci crime family from the comics. Production wrapped up on August 4, 2025.

After filming ended, Jon Bernthal gave an emotional goodbye speech to the crew on set. In the video, he thanked everyone who helped bring the project to life. He spoke about how tough the process was, but also how rewarding it felt in the end.

“This m*the*fu*k*r was impossible but we really f*c*i*g did it,” Bernthal said with a laugh. “It’s because of this man right here, and because of this person right here, and this m*the*fu*k*r right here. Everybody gave their all here,” he added, pointing to different crew members.

Jon Bernthal gives a wrap speech on the set of ‘THE PUNISHER’ special (8.4.25) pic.twitter.com/cDJNHZ0OZc

— Warling (@WarlingHD) August 7, 2025

The special is expected to have a darker tone and is aiming for a TV-MA rating. It will drop on Disney+ in 2026, around the same time as the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. Marvel fans have a lot to look forward to, especially with Bernthal back in full force as the Punisher.

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