Jon Bernthal’s Punisher Won’t Return for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle — the Punisher — won’t be back in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, and it’s not because of creative differences or fan backlash. It’s because Marvel Studios has bigger plans for him. Confirmed by executive producer Sana Amanat in the latest issue of Empire, Bernthal’s absence from the March 4, 2026 Disney+ release is intentional: he’s filming a standalone Punisher Special, completed in August 2025, that will debut later this year. This isn’t a cancellation. It’s a promotion.

Why the Punisher Is Stepping Out

The decision to sideline Frank Castle in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again comes after his explosive return in Season 1, where he teamed up with Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock to take down Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. Fans expected more of their gritty duo. But Marvel Studios isn’t playing the long game the way Netflix did. Back then, every character bled into the next show. Now, they’re building isolated worlds that still connect — like puzzle pieces that don’t need to touch to form the full picture.

The Punisher Special isn’t just another MCU episode. It’s a cinematic event — a 90-minute, R-rated standalone special in the mold of Werewolf by Night and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. And yes, that means blood. Real bullets. Moral gray zones. The kind of content Disney+ has avoided since launching. This is the first time Marvel Studios has greenlit an R-rated project for its streaming platform, signaling a bold new direction for characters who don’t fit the PG-13 mold.

The Director, the Cast, and the Villain

The project is helmed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the Oscar-nominated director of King Richard — a surprising but brilliant choice. Green’s strength lies in grounded human drama, not explosions. That’s exactly what the Punisher needs: a story about trauma, not just vengeance. And he’s bringing back Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle, Frank’s only true friend from the Netflix days. Their dynamic — quiet, weary, deeply loyal — is the emotional core of the character.

Set photos leaked by Geek Tyrant suggest the return of Ma Gnucci, a ruthless matriarch from Marvel’s underworld who’s historically run New York’s organized crime with an iron fist. Her inclusion hints at a story that’s not just about Frank hunting killers — but about dismantling a system. This isn’t a revenge tale. It’s a war.

What This Means for Daredevil

Without the Punisher, Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 will lean harder into Matt Murdock’s internal battle. The show’s writers have confirmed that Kingpin remains the central antagonist, but now, without Frank’s brutal intervention, Matt must find another way to break him — legally, spiritually, emotionally. That’s the real drama: Can a man who believes in justice survive in a city that rewards vengeance?

It’s also a chance to explore new characters. Rumors swirl about the return of Elektra and the possible introduction of Stick — both of whom have deep ties to Matt’s past. But without Frank’s shadow looming over Hell’s Kitchen, the tone shifts. Less grit. More soul.

The Bigger Picture: Frank Castle Goes Mainstream

Here’s the twist: Frank Castle isn’t disappearing from the MCU. He’s expanding. According to LRM Online, Bernthal will reprise his role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the upcoming film starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker. That’s right — the Punisher, the man who shot a man for stealing a sandwich, is going to team up with a kid who fights crime with web-shooters and quips.

It sounds absurd. But it’s genius. Marvel Studios is testing how far they can stretch Frank Castle’s mythology. Can a character defined by rage and isolation become part of a larger, more hopeful universe? Or will the contrast be too stark? Either way, this crossover — if confirmed — will be one of the most talked-about moments in MCU history.

A New Era for Marvel Television

This shift marks the end of the Netflix era — and the beginning of something more controlled, more cinematic. When Marvel Television, led by Jeph Loeb, produced The Punisher (2017–2019), the shows were raw, messy, and unfiltered. Now, under Kevin Feige’s studio, every project is a carefully placed stone in a grand mosaic. The Punisher Special isn’t a spinoff. It’s a pivot. A recalibration. A way to keep Frank Castle’s violence alive without diluting it for family audiences.

And that’s why he’s not in Season 2. Not because he’s done. But because his story’s just getting started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t the Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2?

Jon Bernthal is committed to filming the standalone Punisher Special, which wrapped in August 2025 and will release in 2026. Marvel Studios chose to prioritize Frank Castle’s solo story over a cameo, ensuring his character arc gets proper development without being sidelined in another show’s ensemble.

Is the Punisher Special R-rated?

Yes. It’s the first R-rated project ever produced for Disney+ under Marvel Studios. The special will retain the violent, morally ambiguous tone established in the Netflix series, with practical effects, realistic gunplay, and no censorship — a deliberate move to honor the character’s roots while expanding Marvel’s creative boundaries.

Will Frank Castle and Daredevil ever team up again?

Not anytime soon. The narrative separation is intentional. While they’ve been allies in comics, Marvel Studios is now treating them as parallel stories — Frank’s journey in the shadows, Matt’s in the courtroom. A reunion isn’t ruled out, but it won’t happen until both characters have resolved their individual arcs.

Who is Ma Gnucci, and why does she matter?

Ma Gnucci is a powerful crime matriarch from Marvel Comics who controlled New York’s underworld in the 1980s. Her inclusion in the Punisher Special suggests a deeper, organized crime plot — not just random thugs. She represents the institutional corruption Frank has spent his life fighting, making her a more formidable, symbolic enemy than any lone killer.

How does this affect the MCU’s future?

This signals Marvel Studios’ willingness to experiment with tone and format. The Punisher Special proves they can deliver adult-themed content on Disney+ without alienating the platform’s broader audience. It also opens the door for other R-rated characters — like Blade or Morbius — to get their own standalone stories in the future.

What’s next for Jon Bernthal’s Punisher?

After the Punisher Special, Bernthal will appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set to release in 2027. This crossover suggests Frank Castle is being positioned as a dark mentor figure — a bridge between the street-level MCU and the cosmic one. It’s a radical evolution, but one that could redefine how audiences see vigilantes in the MCU.