Summary:
- Jon Bernthal is stepping back into the shoes of the Punisher.
- Spider-Man and Punisher will meet again in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- Here’s how Spider-Man and Punisher will connect and collaborate.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is releasing on July 31, 2026, with Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo set to return as Punisher and Hulk. We already have news of how Spider-Man connects to Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. But did you know there is a Punisher special coming out in 2026, and it directly ties into Brand New Day? Here’s what Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum had to say.
What’s the Connection Between Spider-Man 4 and the Punisher Special
Marvel TV exec Brad Winderbaum opened up about managing multiple superheroes within one shared universe. He explained that the team always ensures that “it feels like one big universe.” The Marvel head also addressed Spider-Man and Punisher having different tones as he stated, “That doesn’t mean you have to stick to the same tone or genre.” He further added:
You can read a Daredevil comic and a Spider-Man comic and you’re looking at two completely different lenses of the
world and of New York City.
Winderbaum also stated that the Punisher special can be watched without any prior knowledge of events in the MCU. However, the events of it directly lead into Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
When Will the Punisher Special Presentation Release
The Punisher Special Presentation will release on Disney+ in 2026. However, an exact release date is yet to be announced. Winderbaum revealed filming has wrapped, and the project is currently in post-production, which means we should be getting a trailer soon. Reinaldo Marcus Green is the director of the special and has co-written the script with The Punisher himself, Jon Bernthal.
The one-hour special is being described as a “mini film,” similar to other specials like Werewolf by Night and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Punisher could serve as the connective tissue for Marvel’s street-level heroes, especially since they have their own Thanos to go up against: Kingpin.
