The upcoming Punisher television special will directly connect to another MCU movie, according to a new rumor.
Jon Bernthal is reprising his role as Frank Castle/Punisher in a forthcoming television special that is expected to be released in 2026 as part of Phase 6 of the MCU. The project is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who also wrote the script with Bernthal.
What MCU movie will The Punisher TV special be connected to?
Scooper Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus was recently asked if The Punisher television special will have any references to Spider-Man, as Bernthal will also be starring in Spider-Man 4, which releases next July.
“It establishes how he gets to where he is when Brand New Day kicks off,” Perez said.
Whether or not this means that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will actually show up in Marvel’s Punisher special remains to be seen. Plot details for the Punisher special and Spider-Man 4, which is also known as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, remain under wraps at this time, meaning this is only a rumor and should be treated as such.
Marvel Television’s Brad Winderbaum previously said of The Punisher special, via Entertainment Weekly, “It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story. It’s so exciting.
“…Bernthal is a generational actor. He’s incredible what he brings to all the roles he plays, but particularly Frank Castle. And he’s a great writer. He knows the character inside and out…. Also, I love Punisher, but I love Jon’s Punisher in particular. The idea that he’s in the MCU and can bring that to the greater universe, especially the more grounded street-level stuff, is a huge opportunity and, as a fan, the greatest thing ever.”
In addition to Holland and Bernthal, Spider-Man 4, meanwhile, also stars Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, Mark Ruffalo , and Trammel Tillman. That movie currently has a July 31, 2026, release date from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.
