The Punisher being inSpider-Man: Brand New Dayhas me even more confident that an even betterMCUhero will also join the cast. Starring Tom Holland as the titular Webslinger in a brand-new MCU trilogy, the plot of the fourthSpider-Manmovie is still unknown. However, Frank Castle meeting Peter Parker seems to point to an exciting outcome, one that includes another key MCU hero.
Spider-Man: Brand New Dayis set to release in July 2026. Thus far, it’s been confirmed that Jacob Batalon and Zendaya will be returning as Ned Leeds and MJ. Sadie Sink will also be featured in an undisclosed role.However, it was recently confirmed that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is also joiningSpider-Man: Brand New Day’scast, fueling my hopes that one of the MCU’s most important vigilantes will also appear.
Jon Bernthal’s Punisher Is Confirmed For Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Frank Castle Recently Returned in Daredevil: Born Again
First reported by Deadline, it’s been confirmed thatJon Bernthal’s Punisher is set to join the cast ofSpider-Man: Brand New Day. Having first played the Punisher when Netflix was still producing Marvel shows, Bernthal made an exciting return in 2025’sDaredevil: Born Again. Likewise, Bernthal is set to write and star in an upcomingPunisherone-shot special on Disney+.
Now, it seems Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures want the Punisher party to continue by giving him a role inSpider-Man: Brand New Day. This is exciting for multiple reasons. Not only does this support the idea thatBrand New Daywill be more of a grounded, street-level movie as opposed to a full-on multiversal epic, but it’s also cool givenPunisher and Spider-Man’s history as uneasy allies in the comics(and Bernthal and Holland’s real-life friendship).
Why Punisher in Spider-Man 4 Gives Me Hope For Daredevil
Daredevil: Born Again Kickstarted A Major War In New York
If Punisher’s joining forces with Spider-Man on the big screen, I’m hoping that Daredevil isn’t far behind. After all, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock was Peter Parker’s lawyer inSpider-Man: No Way Home, though we’ve yet to see the duo working together in costume. Likewise, Daredevil and Spider-Man have an even stronger working relationship as New York vigilantes, sharing some key villains like Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin.
The plot ofDaredevil: Born Againalso makes me hopeful for aDaredevil appearance inSpider-Man: Brand New Day. This is because Wilson Fisk has declared war on all vigilantes in New York, creating a brutal task force now that he’s become the city’s latest mayor. Additionally, Mayor Fisk is shown in the series giving a public address to the people of New York, mentioning Spider-Man in the same sentence as Punisher and Daredevil:
“We don’t need a gun-toting vigilante who wears a skull on his chest, or a man who dresses in a spider outfit. Or a guy who wears devil horns to save us”
Keeping that in mind, I’d absolutely love it ifSpider-Man: Brand New Daypays off this Kingpin line by having all three New York vigilantes team up for the first time in the MCU.
Will Spider-Man: Brand New Day Include Kingpin’s Vigilante War?
Spider-Man Is A Target Just As Much As Punisher And Daredevil
Daredevil: Born Againseason 2 is expected to release in March 2026, whileBrand New Daywill release a few months later in July.Keeping that in mind, I do think it’s a real possibility that the show could set up the movie with Spider-Man joining Daredevil and Punisher, fighting back against Kingpin’s citywide takeover. Even if I’m wrong, it will still be exciting to see Punisher and Spider-Man side by side for the first time in the MCU.
Spider-Man: Brand New Dayis set to release July 31st, 2026 from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.
