Jon Bernthal Returns as The Punisher in Disney Plus Special Jon Bernthal, a central figure in AMC’s The Walking Dead franchise, is set to make a highly anticipated return to television next month as Frank Castle, the vengeful vigilante known as The Punisher. The actor, whose portrayal of Shane Walsh on The Walking Dead catapulted him into mainstream fame, will headline Marvel Studios’ Disney Plus Special Presentation titled The Punisher: One Last Kill, premiering on May 5, 2026. This marks Bernthal’s first major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since his earlier appearances in the Netflix series Daredevil and The Punisher, which were initially considered separate from the MCU but later confirmed to be canon through the events of Daredevil: Born Again. Bernthal’s return to the character is the result of a long-awaited collaboration between Marvel and the actor, who first played Frank Castle in the 2016 Daredevil series and later starred in two seasons of his own spinoff. The Netflix shows, though not officially recognized as part of the MCU, were treated as canon within their own universe, and their integration into the broader Marvel multiverse was solidified when Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin were brought into the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. This paved the way for Bernthal’s Punisher to reappear, with The Punisher: One Last Kill serving as the first MCU special since 2022. The special is expected to explore Frank Castle’s struggle to live a normal life after years of vengeance, only to be drawn back into the violent world he once inhabited. The plot will likely involve his ongoing conflict with Ma Gnucci, a recurring antagonist in the Punisher’s storylines.#disney_plus #marvel_studios #jon_bernthal #the_punisher #the_walking_dead
