Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are currently gearing up for the release of the upcoming Marvel movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day. That blockbuster will star both Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal, but the two actors have shared a bond for years before their MCU project. And the Uncharted star recently shared a funny story about how a piece of lemon stopped Bernthal from a vow of silence he'd taken while filming another project.

It's a big summer for the two A-list actors, who are starring in both Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which is in theaters now. But they actually met while filming 2017's Pilgrimage, during which Bernthal went method and decided not to speak while playing a mute. During a recent appearance on Hot Ones, Holland shared a story about his co-star, offering:

Despite the age gap between the two stars, it's clear that they hit it off immediately. In addition to helping each other audition for their Marvel roles, it sounds like Tom Holland was all too happy to be Jon Bernthal's voice in the midst of shooting Pilgrimage. And as the 30-year-old actor recalled, his buddy Jon started off pretty well with his vow of silence. As he put it:

So what went wrong? After all, plenty of actors use method acting to help stay in character. It turns out that things went awry when Holland and Bernthal went out to get a meal together. The Spider-Man actor shared how the two went to a restaurant together, where he was the only one who could speak with the wait staff. He went on:

This went on for some time, but one particular interaction between Tom Holland and a server ended up being the final straw in Jon Bernthal's vow of silence for Pilgrimage. It all came down to the request for lemon, which ended the method acting in one fell swoop. The story concludes with:

And just like that, the Punisher actor returned to the land of speaking. It's unclear how far into shooting Jon Bernthal's lemon-based revelation happened, but regardless, he still offered a great performance in the 2017 movie. And his friendship with Tom Holland is one that's still going strong to this day.

Bernthal and Holland can both be seen in The Odyssey, in theaters now. And they'll have yet another title together when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get to see these two buddies on screen more in upcoming Marvel movies.

It’s uncomfortable saying anything negative about The Odyssey right now. In an age of mediocre sequels and uninspired live action adaptations, it feels necessary to exclusively put good vibes into the universe about a big budget event film with high art aspirations that’s doing its own thing. Most of us want more movies like it, and because of that desire, it’s more comfortable to just tell people, “The Odyssey is great! Go see it.”

The truth, however, is that The Odyssey is not great. It’s merely good, and the reason why it’s a step below great is because it has a major side character problem. More specifically, it’s filled with dozens of disposable side characters with one-note personalities who are merely there to advance the plot.

It’s Mostly A Problem Of Structure

I know The Odyssey is a long movie, but even for a long movie, a lot of stuff happens. We get the Trojan Horse and the destruction that comes afterwards. We get the bit with the cyclops, the bit with the sirens and the bit with Scylla and Charybids. There’s an extended sequence with Calypso and the Lotus Flowers. There’s the cattle of Helios and the entire fallout from that. There’s the stuff with Circe and Odysseus’ men and then the stuff with Circe and Odysseus himself. There’s the scene where he meets with the soldiers who have died, and the scene where they have to escape the man-eating giants.

And that’s just the stuff involving Odysseus while he’s on his extended adventure. We also get a parallel plot that runs throughout the movie that involves his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. She has to fend off the suitors who want to marry her and take her place, and Telemachus goes on his own side quest to Sparta to meet with Menelaus and try to figure out if his father is really dead.

Altogether, it’s too much plot for a single movie. It would have been an impossible task to get through all of this in three hours without abridging and trying to move through everything with a brisk momentum.

But That Doesn’t Change The Fact That These Side Characters Are Not Good

Most of The Odyssey’s runtime follows Odysseus’ quest to get home alongside his men. Unfortunately, we spend almost no time with those actual men at all. There are a few scenes of plot-driven banter and minor character development between Matt Damon’s Odysseus and Himesh Patel’s Eurylochus, but there’s nothing particularly memorable or noteworthy about their relationship.

They don’t have a fun rapport or any distinct conversations. And we get almost nothing from anyone else, apart from occasional reaction shots and maybe the odd bit of dialogue here or there. They have no quirks, eccentricities or memorable facets to their personalities. They’re just around to move the plot along.

Unfortunately, that’s a recurring theme with most of the characters in the movie, even the ones that should stand out. Take Charlize Theron’s Calypso. Odysseus spends years eating the Lotus Flowers and living with her on the island, but for the sake of runtime, we’re really just told about it. We don’t see them spending any real time together, and she’s not even given a fully developed personality. Theron has been nominated for three Oscars and has a long track record of doing really weird and memorable things with many of her characters, and yet, she feels so subdued here.

You could go down the list and say the same thing for side character after side character. Zendaya's Athena, Jon Bernthal’s Menelaus, Lupita Nyong’o’s Helen Of Troy and Mia Goth’s maid servant, are all, in theory, key characters played by acclaimed actors who should have a memorable impact on the movie, and instead, they’re just kind of there. Sometimes they deliver really emotional and weighty dialogue, but since we’re not given time to get to know their characters, they just feel like words moving along the plot.

I can’t imagine anyone leaving The Odyssey and saying, ‘you know what side character I really loved?’ Even the ones who are in the movie for a substantial amount of time feel so shallow and without. Robert Pattinson is, I guess, trying to be a little quirky with his portrayal of Antinous, who is the stand-in for the suitors that we see the most, but he’s still ultimately a stock villain from the sleazy handbook.

Samantha Morton’s Circe and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus are getting a bit of positive buzz, but in my opinion, they still feel semi-neutered or at least like unrealized potential. Morton is in the movie for like fifteen minutes, maybe, and chooses to go a bit more understated than the set buzz had me believe, and almost all of Leguizamo’s scenes are just an old man getting picked on and looking downtrodden (apart from that wild puppy scene).

It’s A Missed Opportunity

Once again, none of this is to say The Odyssey is a bad movie or not worth your time. It’s a good movie that is worth your time. You should go see it because it’s (for the most part) an achievement in what’s possible and has a ton of scenes that work really well. There’s so much about the film that’s worth praising, but none of it has to do with character development, which is mediocre at best for Damon's Odysseus, as well as the other two leads Anne Hathaway (who makes the most of her one-note widow) and Tom Holland (who is decent as the one-note meek son).

I don’t know how Nolan could have possibly developed all these characters in three hours, but ultimately, he picked this story and this format. Maybe it should have been two movies. Maybe it should have been a miniseries. I don’t know what the answer was, but I think we should be honest that the path he picked has obvious limitations.

It sucks that the sirens were a three minute afterthought because there wasn’t time to develop their characters. It sucks that we didn’t get more from Theron or Bernthal or Nyong’o. It sucks that Morton’s Circe was only around for like ninety seconds before she showed her true intentions. All of these characters could have been the centerpiece of entire movies or episodes or at least hour long chunks. Instead, they’re underdeveloped. Instead, they’re part of a side character problem that can’t be overlooked.

The Odyssey has been one of my most anticipated 2026 movies. That being said, I rolled my eyes at the runtime of two hours and 52 minutes after I got my ticket. Christopher Nolan’s latest film isn’t his longest movie – that would be Best Picture winner Oppenheimer – but objectively, that’s too long to sit in a movie theater. That is, unless the movie earns it. Well, did The Odyssey? I have thoughts.

Is The Odyssey’s Long Runtime A Problem?

Don’t get me wrong, some of the best movies I’ve ever seen are around three hours. But, right before I go out and see one, I get kind of stressed out. I usually like to get concessions for a movie like The Odyssey. Ugh, but when the moment comes when I have to use the restroom, it’s a tough call. I then have to make the decision to sit there in pain or try to figure out the right time when I can step away.

I’ll never forget when I went to see Dune: Part One. I ended up leaving to use the facilities when a certain character dies. It kind of messed up my first viewing. And then on the other hand, buying a premium movie ticket for something that ends up being both bad and long just sucks. Or, what if I end up sitting close to someone smelly or with a severe phone addiction?

There’s an easy fix for this. I think long movies need to have intermissions like they used to in the old days. Since that doesn’t seem to be on the table, I wince at long movie runtimes. In the case of The Odyssey, I’m very happy to report that I took no issue with it. Personally, I didn’t look at my watch until two hours into it, and the last hour was awesome. (Sure, it also helps that in-movie bathroom decision gods smiled on me that evening).

Personally, I wouldn’t have cut a single scene. If anything, I would have even sat through more! I’m thinking about going to see it again, and let me tell you, that’s very much a rarity for me to say these days. Critics have also been kind to The Odyssey, with the movie currently holding a 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

What My CinemaBlend Colleagues Thought About The Runtime

As I mentioned before, a three-hour movie only works for me if it earns it. And, there was definitely enough within the pages of Homer’s The Odyssey for Nolan to adapt. Plus, he had to make tweaks to the source material to fit into one movie as is. I was curious about what my co-workers thought about the runtime. Here’s what a few of them said:

• “I love long movies when they are well constructed like The Odyssey. Because of the nature of the source material, the movie flows really well from scene to scene, and I don't think it drags at all.” - Hugh Scott, Syndication Editor
• “The Odyssey kept my attention for the entire 3 hours with its fast-paced storytelling and stunning visuals. If I had my way, it would have been 5 or 6 hours and split into two movies in order to more fully develop the side characters.” - Mack Rawden, Editor-In-Chief
• “I get why it's not two movies so that Nolan could end on a high note, but I thought the runtime was too long. I would definitely have taken two movies.” - Jessica Rawden, Managing Editor
• “I'm always wary of long movies; however, I didn't check my watch once watching The Odyssey. Those three hours flew by, and I was left wishing there was more time to dive even deeper into the story.” - Riley Utley, Weekend Editor

Of course, there’s a range of opinions here regarding the specifics, but overall I think we have a consensus: The Odyssey’s runtime works! If you, too, found yourself unsure about venturing to see it because of its length, I hope this helps reassure you it’s worth it. I know I would have appreciated knowing this before heading into it.

Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is still a few days away from hitting the 2026 movie schedule, but for months it's been in the firing line for angry people on the internet. I know it’s best to stay out of the comment section, but sometimes I can’t help myself. It doesn’t take long when I do dip my toes in to see some of the major complaints that people have even before seeing the movie. I have to say, none of these are concerns of mine. I remain highly optimistic about this epic that is about to unfold for all of us seeing the movie next week.

The Casting Seems To Be The Focus Of Many Commenters’ Ire

There is no question that Nolan has assembled one heck of a cast. Matt Damon leads the movie as Odysseus. Anne Hathaway is playing his wife, Penelope. Tom Holland is playing Telemachus, his son. Joining them, we’ve got stars like Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton (who has apparently killed it with her performance), and Jon Bernthal, along with many others. It’s stacked. There are two or three cast members who have some people upset, and it makes no sense.

Lupita Nyong'o (Helen of Troy), John Leguizamo (Eumaeus), and Elliot Page (Sinon) have drawn the most wrath, and Travis Scott (playing a bard) has also taken some shots. Of course, it’s easy to see why these four have been in the firing line, and frankly, I think it’s all silly (and offensive, of course). The Odyssey is a myth. It’s not history. Historical accuracy should take a backseat to storytelling in this case. Helen of Troy wasn’t a real person, so why does it matter if the actress playing the character doesn’t look Greek or Spartan? Nyong'o certainly fits the description of being beautiful, and she is one of the most talented actresses in the world. That’s by far enough for me.

The Accents, Armor, And Ships Are Also Popular Complaints

The second most common whine is that the armor Odysseus and his men wear is not period-accurate. I’m all for historical accuracy in film; in fact, it’s often a deciding factor in whether I like a movie or not (I’m looking at you, Napoleon), but again, this is a myth. I don’t care that Damon and his cohorts are dressed in armor that doesn’t fit the age. That’s not the point of the story here. Let’s be honest, period-accurate armor looks rather ridiculous, and so making it look “cooler” is just fine by me. The same goes for the ships used by our hero and his men. Yeah, they look more like Viking ships than boats from ancient Greece, but again, this story is a myth, so why care?

Another popular refrain seems to be that all of the actors are using American accents in the movie, even the Brits. I have to say, again, why is this something people are mad about? They aren’t speaking ancient Greek in this modern telling of the myth, either. No one is upset about that, because everyone understands why the movie is in English, so what does it matter which accents are being used? Nolan apparently was looking for consistency, and so this decision makes total sense. This is seriously just complaining to complain.

Luckily for me, none of these creative decisions bother me in the slightest, and I can say that this is by far my most anticipated movie of the summer.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, but there was a time when various actors were still in the process of auditioning for the shared universe (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know how Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal have been killing it as Spider-Man and Punisher respectively, but it turns out that the Peter Parker actor actually helped to get the latter into playing Frank Castle.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the next upcoming Marvel movie hitting theaters, and will feature both Holland and Bernthal. Anticipation for the project is high, and in an interview with Empire the Walking Dead alum revealed that Holland actually encouraged him to try and play The Punisher in the Netflix Marvel shows. As he put it:

These two actors met while filming 2017's Pilgrimage, hitting it off despite their 19-year age difference. They happened to both be auditioning for their Marvel roles, and even read for each other during that process. Ultimately both Holland and Bernthal got their roles, although the latter was kept on the small screen until Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Given how amazing and badass Jon Bernthal is as Frank Castle/ The Punisher, it's hard to imagine him not really knowing much about the character ahead of his audition. Luckily Tom Holland, ever the Marvel nerd, helped him catch up and nail the role. The Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer showed them finally interacting within the MCU, and fans can't wait to see how Punisher factors into the story. Later in the same interview, he gushed about working with Holland on two different new movies, offering:

Nearly a decade has passed since Pilgrimage was released, and Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland were able to work with each other again on both Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It's a full circle moment, especially the latter thanks to them auditioning for the MCU at the same time. And I can't wait to see how their relationship comes through on the big screen.

The Odyssey will hit theaters on July 17th, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we see more of Punisher and Spider-Man together in the MCU more in future projects.

Putting Jon Bernthal’s Punisher into the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man: Brand New Day always sounded both exciting and mildly terrifying. Frank Castle is not exactly the kind of guy who usually plays well inside the brightly lit moral framework of a friendly upcoming superhero movie. Frank's more “broken bones in an alley” than “quippy web swing past the deli.” That is why Holland’s latest comments on Spider-Man: Brand New Day have me feeling better about the whole thing.

While speaking with Empire Magazine for its July 2026 cover story, Holland addressed concerns about bringing an R-rated character into Peter Parker’s world, and it sounds like the movie is not sanding Frank down into a Disney-safe action figure. According to Holland:

That is exactly what I wanted to hear. The fear was never really that Punisher would appear in a Spider-Man movie. On paper, that dynamic has a ton of potential. I mean, it's worked for decades in the comic books. The fear was that the MCU’s next big-screen entry might bring him in, file off the uglier edges and turn him into a grumpy guest star who just scowls while Peter learns another lesson about responsibility.

Holland also teased that there are “fun ways” to get around the fact that Frank swears and kills people, which is a very funny sentence to say about one of Marvel’s most violent characters. But, hey, at least it's clear the filmmakers are aware of the tonal problem instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.

The best part is that Bernthal’s own comments make Frank sound as emotionally wrecked and stubborn as ever. He is not describing a softer Punisher who suddenly wants to join Peter Parker’s neighborhood watch. He is describing a man who has made a home out of the hole he is in. He added:

That is the sweet spot. Frank should not become Peter’s pal. He should make Peter uncomfortable. He should force Spider-Man to confront the ugly endpoint of grief, rage and vigilante justice. Peter saves people because he believes responsibility means restraint. Frank punishes people because restraint is the thing he buried with the rest of his life. That contrast could really work, especially after Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending set up Peter as isolated and having to start over.

Bernthal recently returned as Frank Castle in Daredevil: Born Again and The Punisher: One Last Kill, streaming with a Disney+ subscription, which kept the character rooted in the darker, street-level corner of Marvel. One Last Kill does not directly set up Brand New Day, but it does leave Frank in full Punisher mode ahead of his appearance in the next new Spider-Man film, which is definitely exciting.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31, 2026. Check your local listings for showtimes closer to release.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that constantly releases new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next upcoming Marvel movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will pair Tom Holland's hero with both The Hulk and Jon Bernthal's Punisher. The latter actor recently spoke about what it would take to get him to return as Frank Castle yet again, and after his recent work on One Last Kill and The Bear, I think Kevin Feige and company should relent.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, as well as the TV shows, were thrilled when Bernthal returned as Frank Castle in Daredevil: Born Again. He's since appeared in the special Punisher: One Last Kill, and was featured in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer. During an interview with Esquire the 49 year-old actor spoke about continuing as his signature MCU character, saying:

Sign me up. While an actor asking for control of their own future in the MCU might sound like a big ask, Jon Bernthal's resume speaks for himself. Because in addition to his decade playing Punisher in the MCU (starting with Daredevil Season 2), he's also gotten behind the camera. He co-wrote the script for One Last Kill, which was received well by critics upon its release on Disney+ this month. The Walking Dead star has a deep understanding of his signature character, and has writing experience that should allow him to create compelling new stories.

Jon Bernthal also flex both his acting and writing talents on The Bear's bonus episode Gary (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription). That episode served a prequel to the main series, and was written by Bernthal and his co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach. It was an emotionally powerful episode of television, and once again proves the actor's ability to write for characters that he's passionate about. So why not let him be a creative force behind his next appearance as Frank Castle in the MCU?

Of course, it's possible that Bernthal is also hoping to direct whatever comes next for his beloved Marvel character. Whether or not that's a game changer for Kevin Feige and company remains to be seen, but he's got the star-power and resume that I think has earned him some creative control over Punisher. Hopefully the studio agrees.

The Punisher: One Last Kill is streaming on Disney+ now, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Plus Gary is streaming now. Clearly Jon Bernthal has been keeping busy as of late.

Every streaming service has a few hit shows, and The Bear is definitely on that list for those with a Hulu subscription. The Emmy-winning drama is one of the best shows to watch on Hulu, and folks are emotionally preparing for its upcoming fifth and final season. Fans were shocked when a surprise episode was released, called Gary, and I think it's essential viewing ahead of Season 5's debut this summer.

Gary is a prequel to The Bear, set years before Season 1's action. Written by Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the hour-long episode is a deep dive into the relationship between Richie and Mikey ahead of the latter's death. And anyone who watches the series should take the time to stream this emotional bonus episode.

Gary Offers Major Emotional Ties To The Bear

Gary takes place years before The Bear, where Bernthal's Mikey is still very much alive. The two "cousins" are tasked with driving to Gary, Indiana, and delivering a package for Uncle Jimmy. The road trip's stakes are higher due to Richie's wife, Tiff's pregnancy, and her superstition that she'll give birth at 5:15 PM just like her mother did with her.

Throughout the episode, we get a snapshot of just how close these Richie and Mikey were, as well as the latter character's deteriorating mental health. The pair of buddies laugh, sing, play basketball, and get drunk and high while waiting for Jimmy's contact to show up and take the mysterious package. And it provides some much-needed context for both of the characters.

While it was originally a joy to see how much Mikey and Richie have fun and truly love each other, there's also a darkness that boils over by the time the episode is over. Mikey humiliates his best friend in a bar full of strangers and tells him he's a coward who will abandon his unborn child. It's an emotionally devastating moment that shows just how toxic and mentally unwell Bernthal's character was.

It's also shown that Richie failed to make it home in time for his daughter's birth, which is presumably a big reason why Tiff ultimately left him. His heartbreak over the split is still palpable in The Bear's current timeline, although he proved his late friend wrong and is a great father to Eva. Mikey also opens up about his trauma related to Jamie Lee Curtis' Donna, especially since Gary is set after the flashback episode "Fishes."

Then there's Gary's ending, which might end up factoring into The Bear when it returns for its fifth and final season. In the episode's final moments, we're transported back into the present, shortly before Richie ends up being T-boned by another vehicle. Will he end up seriously injured and therefore unable to work at the restaurant? Only time will tell, but I assume this was included for a specific narrative reason.

Gary is streaming now on Hulu as part of the 2026 TV schedule. The Bear will return for Season 5 on June 25th, so there's a month and change to catch up and prepare for whatever the acclaimed series will throw at us for its final batch of episodes.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Punisher: One Last Kill. Stream the one-shot with a Disney+ subscription, or read at your own risk!

The Punisher: One Last Kill is out on Disney+, and with it comes some important updates on what's been going on with Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the special sees Castle grappling existential issues and a new threat. It's long been known that Frank will reappear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and, ahead of that, this one-shot improves one aspect of Castle's characterization in this continuity.

Frank Castle Has A Major Breakthrough In One Last Kill

By the start of One Last Kill, Frank has inadvertently caused chaos within New York City, as the sudden death of the major crime families has led to a power vacuum of violence where any criminal is trying to make a name for themself. The streets are dangerous but, toward the beginning of the episode, The Punisher is largely apathetic to it.

Frank's haunted by the ghosts of former friends and his family, and thinking back on all the times he took them for granted. Mentally speaking, he's a mess, but he's still just as in shape as ever and very much prone to shooting first and asking questions later.

Perhaps predictably, it's violence that wakes Frank Castle up and brings purpose back to his life. Crime boss Ma Gnucci (Judith Light) puts out a hit on the antihero and, suddenly, he's fighting for his life whilst also trying to protect the others in his community. It's chaotic from a viewers' perspective but, by the end, Frank has a moment of clarity that leads to a massive breakthrough, which is where the improvement comes in.

What makes me happy is that Frank finally realizes he may never fully be over the death of his family but that helping others and "punishing" those who wrong them helps stave off his demons. And, on that note, The Punisher: One Last Kill closes with Frank back in his skull-adorned uniform and ready to make anyone pay an appropriate price for their crimes.

Was Ma Gnucci's Hit Contract A Blessing In Disguise?

I think what I love most about The Punisher: One Last Kill is that Ma Gnucci putting out a hit on Frank is ultimately what saves his life. I also don't think that's her intention at all because, if she knew how much he was hurting, she might've been better off letting him suffer alone. Regardless of that, though, it's great that Castle has finally come to this realization and can take it with him moving forward.

I also love that while it takes a heap of violence to bring this resolution, I simultaneously can't say with confidence that Frank Castle is "ok" after all of this. Helping others and fighting crime is going to offer him some reprieve from his grief, but trauma like that just can't be thrown away. Sadly, too many of us can relate to that (even if we don't solve all our problems by shooting criminals and beating them to a bloody pulp).

Ultimately, this all beautifully sets the stage for Frank Castle's return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which both Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland have raved about. I'm wondering if this experience in One Last Kill marks the end to Frank's brutally murderous ways, as I can't imagine Spidey and other Marvel heroes would condone it. Then again, I'm not sure I think a character like Castle can just stop killing indefinitely.

Regardless, let's just be grateful that we finally have a fully established Punisher, who's now seemingly committed to his vigilante duties more than ever. All in all, I'm eager to see how the events of this special impact his next appearance in the MCU.

Overall, The Punisher: One Last Kill is definitely worth checking out for both its themes of mental health and action that's reminiscent of John Wick and The Raid: Redemption. Also, be sure to check out Spider-Man: Brand New Day when it swings into theaters on July 31 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

MCU fans have been looking forward to seeing Jon Bernthal reunite with Tom Holland on Spider-Man: Brand New Day for the last year, since it was announced that The Punisher was joining the superhero flick. However, fans of Frank Castle don’t have to wait that long to see the iconic antihero’s next moves. The Punisher: One Last Kill is set to hit the 2026 TV schedule, and critics have strong (and not all positive) opinions about the new Marvel offering.

Jon Bernthal, naturally, leads The Punisher standalone special (streaming with a Disney+ subscription), where we’ll see Frank Castle’s attempt to live a life without the need for vigilante justice. After that brutal One Last Kill trailer, though, we can assume that plan doesn't pan out. Zach Pope writes on X (Twitter) that fans of the character are going to love this:

@Klepcx of Critix Media says The Punisher: One Last Kill will leave MCU fans stunned by how brutal this Marvel Special Presentation is, saying there’s “nothing in the superhero genre right now quite like” it. The critic continues:

Leo Rydel also speaks to the violence of it all, saying the lead actor is at his best in the upcoming Marvel show. The critic tweets:

Dalton Burdette agrees the special is great, but rather than comment on the violence and bloody action, this critic seems moved by the “profound” quiet moments as well. Burdette writes on X:

The first reactions to the Disney+ show aren’t all so glowing. While everyone seems to agree that Jon Bernthal is doing his best work here, the material he’s working with is leaving some critics wanting. The Koalition’s @sagesurge posts:

Film Posers’ @gaby_burgos27 takes the criticism a step further, citing a lack of character development. She says:

Cody Leach, movie fan and critic, wonders why we need to be reintroduced to Jon Bernthal’s character in this way, especially if there’s nothing new to learn. He tweets:

If you’re tuning into The Punisher: One Last Kill for some violent fight sequences and to see that version of Jon Bernthal we love to hate, it sounds like you won’t be disappointed. However, nobody’s apparently going to glean any new morsels of information about the antihero.

The Punisher standalone special premieres at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 12, streaming on Disney+.

It's no secret that Tom Holland and Zendaya are starring in two films on the 2026 movie schedule together. However, I just realized Jon Bernthal is also in those two flicks. Now, The Punisher actor is opening up about working with Holland specifically on both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, and after hearing his wholesome take, I need more of this bromance ASAP.

Now, to understand why this is so wholesome, you have to know that Holland and Bernthal go way back. In 2015, they worked together on a movie called Pilgrimage, and now, over a decade later, they’re collaborating on two of the biggest films of 2026. While on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Bear actor got real about their long friendship and his love for the Peter Parker actor, saying:

Tom Holland certainly has become a movie star, and Bernthal has been there since almost day one. He knew Holland before he became the webslinger; in fact, he helped him audition for Spider-Man (but more on that later). In the years since, he’s seen his co-star lead multiple Marvel movies and flourish in both his acting career and business ventures.

Along with loving Holland in a professional sense, Bernthal has a deep personal adoration for him, too. He made that clear as he complimented the Spider-Man: Homecoming star’s family and “better half,” AKA his fiancée Zendaya:

Well, isn’t that just the sweetest thing? Along with seeing Holland grow as an actor, Bernthal has also been around as his friend and collaborator found love.

However, going back to their work, we might not have gotten Holland or Bernthal in the upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, if they didn’t help each other audition for their respective roles as Peter Parker and Frank Castle. Recalling that fateful situation that ultimately led Holland to Captain America: Civil War and Bernthal to Daredevil, the Punisher actor said:

Truly, this is the coolest story, and it’s so wholesome to hear The Accountant actor reflect on this decade-long friendship. And the way it’s culminating this year makes it even more special.

First of all, as we’ve discussed, the two actors will appear together in the newest Spider-Man movie, which will be a full circle, considering they helped each other audition for these parts a decade ago.

However, a couple of weeks before Brand New Day’s release, we’ll also get to see them on screen together in Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey. In this book-to-screen adaptation of Homer’s epic, Holland will play Telemachus while Bernthal takes on the role of Menelaus.

Overall, I can totally see why Bernthal called both this friendship and this moment in his career “a real gift.” Not only is it that for him, but it's lovely for fans too. Now, as we get closer to The Odyssey’s July 17 premiere and Spider-Man’s July 31 release, I’m hoping we get more bromance moments like this from Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal.

MCU fans hoping to see a lot of bone-crunching and bullet-whizzing action only have a little while longer to wait until the one-shot special The Punisher: One Last Kill punches a hole through the 2026 TV schedule. The upcoming Marvel TV release brings the skull-shaped spotlight back to Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle for his first (and maybe last) standalone MCU storyline. The actor’s been hyping fans up for his vigilante’s post-Daredevil: Born Again return, and his latest post drew fun comments from former Walking Dead co-star Sarah Wayne Callies and a DCU fave.

Bernthal took to Instagram to share a black-and-white pic of himself that could easily be a visual stand-in for the term “world-weary,” with this as his caption:

Though it wasn't an official still of Frank Cast, and he wasn't actually decked out in any Punisher gear, Bernthal's caption likely resonated with Daredevil fans. It's the way Frank explained to Matt that they're two sides of the same coin, with Punisher's willingness to kill being the line that Daredevil vows not to cross. But just as any given Sunday can give an underdog football team a win, one bad day could be all it takes to shatter Matt's moral compass.

But since the lawyer currently has his hands full with Wilson Fisk, there's no need to bring him further along in this story. Instead, here's a comment shared by Bernthal's former Walking Dead romantic interest, to put it in the least complicated way possible, Sarah Wayne Callies:

• SARAH WAYNE CALLIES: i sure hope not 😂❤️

The Lori Grimes actress likely wasn't playing into the Daredevil reference there, and it seems apaprent she was playfully poking fun at Jon Bernthal's mug. He does kind of look like the exact opposite of TWD's ever-popular quasi-villain Shane, whose head was nearly clean-shaven when he was taken out of the equation.

Another standout comment on the actor's post came from another machismo-centric action star who somewhat recently beat the dogsh-t out of a superhero, only on the DCU side of things. I'm referring to Peacemaker and Creature Commandos star Frank Grillo, who chimed in on Bernthal's post with:

• FRANK GRILLO: you wanted to be a tough guy. 😎🥊🥊🥊

The thought of Frank Grillo and Jon Bernthal facing off on-screen is the kind of thing that 1,000% needs to happen before either of them calls it quits on stunt-heavy action. It's legitimately shocking that there aren't already 12 examples of it across TV and cinema. (Or even a video game.) And you can imagine that the fans reacting to the above went straight to Grillo's MCU history, calling for a Crossbones Vs. Punisher fight. Does it matter that Crossbones is dead? Nope.

Check out the trailer for One Last Kill below, and there's no judgment if anyone wants to imagine a zombified Frank Grillo's Crossbones showing up in the middle of it.

If all it takes is one bad day to turn into Jon Bernthal, then I hope I have 100 of them in a row. But it definitely won't be a bad one on Tuesday, May 12, when The Punisher: One Last Kill is available to stream via Disney+ subscription. (And then don't forget he'll also be reteaming with Tom Holland for Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are already eating well with Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, currently wowing fans every week on the 2026 TV schedule. But there will be no breaks for the MCU as immediately after the new season of Born Again finishes, we'll get Punisher: One Last Kill, a TV special that looks like it may take us to the darkest corner of the franchise.

The trailer for One Last Kill just dropped, and while I was certainly expecting something violent and meant for a mature audience, I'm not sure I was expecting this. The trailer gives us all the action we might want from the Punisher, but it also makes clear that Frank Castle is not in a good place mentally. Check out the full trailer above.

The Punisher: One Last Kill Trailer Is Brutal And Dark

When we last saw Frank Castle in the MCU, at the end of Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, he was breaking arms and escaping from Wilson Fisk's vigilante prison camp. Now we see a man with a grizzled beard who is apparently hallucinating old friends telling him that he is damned for what he has done.

It's hard to tell from what we see here what the story even is. Although there is a young girl who we see in multiple shots who appears to be important, a girl who reminds Frank Castle of his own daughter, whom he lost.

One Last Kill looks like a story that will be as brutal emotionally as it will be physically. We see plenty of action with Castle taking down many people with both hand-to-hand weapons and guns. While the MCU is generally a PG-13-friendly place, the franchise isn't afraid to go adults-only for the right reasons. Daredevil: Born Again set a bar for violence in the MCU, but it looks like Punisher: One Last Kill may be planning to raise that bar yet again.

One Last Kill Won't Be The Last We See Of Frank Castle

While there have been a couple of one-off MCU stories on Disney+, like Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, One Last Kill is still something of a rarity as a standalone story that is neither a series nor a movie. Streaming does make it easier for these sorts of productions, which is great. While I'm all for a Punisher movie or series, if this particular story works better with a run time of an hour, it's likely better that nobody tried to expand it into something it didn't need to be.

While the subtitle of the show may indicate some sort of ending, we know that we'll see The Punisher again in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, where we will see a somewhat lighter version of the character due to the movie's rating. It will be interesting to see how these two iterations of the character fit together. Considering how dark this looks, Brand New Day may be even more jarring by comparison.

Now, to see The Punisher in action, you can catch One Last Kill with a Disney+ subscription on May 12. Then, you'll get to see him again when Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always releasing new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While all eyes are on upcoming Marvel movies like The Avengers, there's also some thrilling projects heading to the small screen. We just got the poster and official release date for the streaming event The Punisher: One Last Kill, and now fans think that another Netflix Marvel character will be joining Jon Bernthal for the mysterious project.

It's a great time to be a Punisher fan, as he appeared in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer and will also be getting a special event One Last Kill on May 12th ahead of pivoting to the big screen. Jon Bernthal recently shared that event's poster and release date, you check it out below:

Honestly, sign me up. While we don't know much about that The Punisher: One Last Kill will entail, the fact that Bernthal is taking center stage years after The Punisher Season 2's 2019 release is a thrilling concept. But could more characters from Netflix's Marvel shows also pop up?

It certainly seems possible, but who could join Frank Castle on his next solo adventure? Fans have on idea: Elodie Yung's Elektra, who previously appeared in both Daredevil and The Defenders. The chatter began when she commented on Bernthal's Instagram post with the following:

While this comment might be innocent enough, it definitely turned the heads of fan. A handful responded to her post, asking her if she'll once again be taking up Elektra's sai in the MCU. It remains to be seen if that happens, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order would be thrilled. And it would be only the latest example of the Netflix characters returning to the shared universe.

It took a few years, but it feels like those MCU characters that originally lived on Netflix are now parts of the larger universe. It all started with Charlie Cox's cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, followed by Kingpin appearing in Hawkeye and Echo. Then came Daredevil: Born Again, which brought back the whole ensemble and even Bernthal's Punisher. And Season 2 will feature the long-awaited return of Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones. As such, Elektra coming back doesn't feel out of the question at all.

We last saw Elektra in The Defenders' finale. After the final battle, she and Daredevil were both seemingly crushed underneath Midland Circle. While Matt Murdock returned for Season 3 of his show and eventually Born Again, Yung's character hasn't been seen or heard from since.

Only time will tell if Elektra actually appears in The Punisher: One Last Kill, but our answers will be here when its released May 12th as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

Tom Holland’s fourth outing as Spidey is the next of upcoming Marvel movies on the way and, as the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer showcases, this time he’ll mix it up with Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher. This will mark the first time the two characters have crossed paths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, what fans might not know is that Holland and Bernthal actually have a history!

Jon Bernthal recently took to his Instagram to share a vintage photo of himself with Tom Holland, and it speaks to the sweet relationship he has with the British actor. Check it out:

It's hard not to love this throwback. This is likely from a decade ago, when Holland and Bernthal worked together in a little-known Irish film, Pilgrimage, which was released in 2017. Jon Bernthal posted the photo with a sweet message where he called Holland a “one of a kind” who he is “so proud and in awe of the man” he has become. Bernthal said “I love you brother” before saying he’s “honored to be rolling with” him again.

A sum of people who saw this post may have had no idea these two have such a long history of working together, but that’s just because their previous film together wasn’t nearly as massive as a Marvel film. It's about monks in Medieval Ireland. Now that Bernthal has pointed out their shared history, fans may be even more excited to see Spider-Man and Punisher in the same movie this summer. Check out the Brand New Day trailer below:

Holland has been hyping up Spider-Man and Punisher in Brand New Day, too, saying the pair of Marvel characters together might be his “favorite dynamic” he’s seen with Spider-Man. (And yes, I’m also thinking ‘Wow, even better than Peter Parker with Tony Stark?’) The actor has described the on-screen relationship as a “big brother/little brother rivalry” which developed after the pair started improvising bits together that forwarded the dynamic that was originally on the page.

Brand New Day follows Peter Parker four years after the events of No Way Home left the world forgetting his name, including his best pals Zendaya and Jacob Batalon’s MJ and Ned. Holland has called the movie a “rebirth” for the beloved character he played across six films prior to this one.

Bernthal’s role as the Punisher has been going on for just as long, but his role in Brand New Day will mark the first time the character has popped up in a big-screen Marvel movie, and this comes after his recent appearance in Daredevil: Born Again. W

That's all exciting, but did I also mention that Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal are actually in two 2026 movie schedule entries together?! Both actors are also in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, too. Holland is reportedly playing Odysseus’s son Telemachus, while Bernthal is playing the Greek king of Sparta, Menelaus. (And Zendaya is in both movies, too!)

I, for one and pumped to see Holland and Bernthal share the screen this year. Also, as they do press, I hope their personal history comes up as well. First, check them out in The Odyssey, which hits it theaters on July 17, and then see them in Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.

It’s become tradition for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to team up with other major players from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in his solo movies. This time around for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, along with Mark Ruffalo reprising Bruce Banner (it hasn’t been confirmed if we’ll see him in Hulk form), Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher, will make his film debut in the upcoming Marvel movie after years of killing bad guys in the TV space. We got a brief taste of what to expect between Punisher and Spidey in the first Brand New Day trailer, and Holland has now shared why he thinks these two together might be his “favorite dynamic” yet for his Peter Parker.

Peter and Frank are clearly not vibing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as the latter hits the former with his van and shoots at him because he’s in the way, prompting the web-slinger to kick the gun-toting vigilante out of said van. These two take quite difference approaches to crimefighting, and it’s that very polarization that appeals to Tom Holland, as he said during an interview when he visited the Empire State Building:

Jon Bernthal was revealed to be in Spider-Man: Brand New Day last June, although details are still sparse about his role aside from crossing paths with Spidey in New York City while waging his war on crime. Until now, Punisher has operated in R-rated, or at least R-adjacent territory, starting with when he was introduced in Daredevil Season 2 a decade ago.

However, Tom Holland is pleased with how bringing the character into the PG-13 space for Brand New Day turned out. He continued:

Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal previously worked together on 2017’s Pilgrimage, where they helped each other out with their respective MCU auditions. Also, Spider-Man: Brand New Day isn’t even the only movie they’re co-starring in this July. Holland and Bernthal are respectively playing Telemachus and Menelaus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, so if you’re a fan of both of these actors, that month is going to be a fun one. I’m especially eager to see the full scope of their bickering sibling dynamic in the next Spider-Man movie.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31, and you can stream both Peter Parker and Frank Castle’s past MCU exploits with your Disney+ subscription. Additionally, Jon Bernthal will star in his own Punisher TV special on the same streaming platform somewhere on the midway point of the 2026 TV schedule.

Ever since it was confirmed that Jon Bernthal would return as Frank Castle for a standalone Punisher special in the MCU, fans have been wondering which familiar faces from Marvel's Netflix era might show up alongside him. Now, a recent social media post has sparked serious speculation that one of the most important characters from the original The Punisher series could be making a comeback.

The Social Media Post That Started Speculation

Actress Amber Rose Revah shared a still image of her character, Dinah Madani, aiming a gun from the Netflix-era series in a recent Instagram post, and fans wasted absolutely no time jumping to conclusions. The post itself didn’t come with any confirmation of a return, but the timing raised plenty of eyebrows.

Madani played a major role throughout The Punisher’s two-season run, and her complicated dynamic with Frank Castle became one of the emotional backbones of the show. If Marvel is bringing the character back into the MCU alongside Bernthal, it would make a lot of sense to include her in whatever story they’re building.

Of course, nothing official has been confirmed yet. But judging by how quickly fans connected the dots, plenty of people are already convinced something is happening.

Who Dinah Madani Is In The Punisher Story

For anyone who might need a refresher, Dinah Madani was introduced in The Punisher as a Homeland Security agent investigating a massive military conspiracy tied to Frank Castle’s past.

Over the course of the series, Madani evolves from someone hunting Castle down to one of the few people who truly understands what drives him. Their relationship is complicated, tense, and often adversarial, but there’s also a deep sense of mutual respect.

By the end of Season 2, Madani had become one of the most important figures in Frank’s orbit. She wasn’t just a supporting character either. She frequently drove the larger investigation plots that shaped the series. Because of that, bringing Madani back for a Punisher special would feel like a natural continuation of the story that started on Netflix.

So, what are fans saying about this possibility? Let's take a look.

Fans React To Madani Possibly Returning

Unsurprisingly, fans flooded the post’s comments section with speculation almost immediately. Some people are cautiously hopeful, while others seem convinced the tease means Madani is already locked in for the special. Here’s a sampling of what people are saying:

• @shanush_03: “Return of dinah madani??!”
• @market_mane_mcintyre: “@shanush_03 I hope so”
• @aliimight: “madani please come back. the kids miss you.”
• @ignacio_lara_toy_photographer: “You do what you gotta do Madani”
• @lfc_adamhugh_: “We need madani back to reunite with frank”
• @delicateflower_: “Ahh I LOVE Agent Madani sooo much 💋🤌🏻”
• @agentredhood05: “Hope Madani returns in the Punisher one shot special 😱”
• @readycosplayerone: “COME BACK TO US”
• @tdewar1987: “Dinah Madani comeback? Please 😍”
• @chrismirancos: “WHAT DA HECK DOES THIS MEAN?! 👀👀👀👀👀”
• @jonnyblovers: “HEY HEY HEY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, DONT PLAY W ME EMOTIONS LIKE THIS 😭😩”

At this point, the speculation machine is fully running. Whether Revah’s post was meant as a tease or simply as a nostalgic throwback remains unclear. But judging by the reaction, plenty of fans are more than ready to see Agent Madani cross paths with Frank Castle again.

For now, we’ll just have to wait and see what’s revealed when the upcoming Punisher special eventually arrives on the 2026 TV schedule. In the meantime, fans can revisit Castle’s previous appearances—or even rewatch the entire MCU in order—with a Disney+ subscription.

As for The Punisher's next appearance, Bernthal is confirmed to return in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, swinging into theaters on July 31, 2026.

Just like he did with Oppenheimer in 2023, Christopher Nolan is delivering a large cast of stacked talent on the 2026 movies schedule with The Odyssey. Jon Bernthal is among the many people who are joining Matt Damon is this cinematic adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, with the MCU’s Punisher actor playing Menelaus, the Greek king of Sparta. Although we still haven’t seen any footage of Bernthal yet in Nolan’s The Odyssey, someone has pointed out a fun coincidence between the source material and his body of work that has me even more eager to see the movie.

X user @awoodustin shared a screenshot of a portion of The Odyssey where Menelaus says, “Let me tell you.” This was a quote tweet to a compilation video of Jon Bernthal saying variations of that same kind of line in many of his movies and TV shows, as well as a few interviews. See for yourself:

I think it’s fair to say that Christopher Nolan had no idea about this when he selected Jon Bernthal to play Menelaus in The Odyssey, but it’s nonetheless hilarious it worked out that way. Now I’ll be paying close attention to if Bernthal actually says “Let me tell you” in the movie. If he does, then that compilation will need to be updated whenever The Odyssey is released on home media alongside scenes from

Faithfully adapting the original text rather than taking major creative liberties, The Odyssey chronicles Matt Damon’s Odysseus’ 10-year journey to return home to his wife, Anne Hathaway’s Penelope, and son, Tom Holland’s Telemachus, after fighting in the Trojan War for that same amount of time. Menelaus fought in that same conflict, and while he has a bigger role in the preceding Iliad, Jon Bernthal should get a decent amount of screen time portraying the character in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation.

Other actors appearing in the summer blockbuster include Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel and Mia Goth, but again, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. It’s also worth noting that we’ll be getting a double dose of Jon Bernthal, Tom Holland and Zendaya come July. Two week after The Odyssey’s arrival on the 17th of that month, all three will star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with this marking the first time that Bernthal has played The Punisher in a movie.

Between those two movies, the Disney+ Punisher special and his Netflix subscription-exclusive limited series His & Hers that can be watched now, 2026 is a big year for Jon Bernthal. The question now is, how much will we hear of him telling someone something. Let’s loop back at the beginning of 2027 to compare notes.

Pete Davidson seems to be enjoying the early days of parenthood, since his partner Elsie Hewitt gave birth to their “perfect angel” baby girl in December. Having children had been the Saturday Night Live alum’s biggest dream for years, and as he opened up about the traits he hopes baby Scottie Rose will have as she gets older, I was definitely not expecting Jon Bernthal’s name to get dropped.

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt chose the “Staten Island Normal” name Scottie for their daughter as a tribute to Davidson’s father Scott, a New York firefighter who died in the 9/11 attacks. However, the name isn't the only connection the Bupkis star hopes she’ll have to her late grandfather, as he opened up to US Weekly, saying:

It is absolutely adorable to hear Pete Davidson, mere weeks into fatherhood, imagining what kind of person he hopes his daughter is, especially in the qualities she might inherit from his family members.

I’m also super amused that Jon Bernthal is the friendly face that the Bodies Bodies Bodies actor pictures when he thinks about feeling kinship with a stranger. I mean, I get it. Bernthal is charming as hell, and I don’t hear anybody questioning why the Marvel actor has popped up in everything from The Bear to The Accountant 2 to The Amateur to this year’s TV shows like His & Hers.

No big deal, but he’s also got a couple of projects coming to the 2026 movie calendar that you might have heard of — The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And I don’t care what kind of evil deeds he’s pulled off as The Punisher in the MCU, Pete Davidson’s right — I’d totally let Bernthal hold my baby if I saw him in CVS.

Pete Davidson wasn’t done fawning over his baby girl, though, going on to say he’s not concerned with what Scottie will look like as she grows up, but rather the heart that will show through on her face. He continued:

Pro-tip for new dads: It's always a good idea to sneak in a sweet compliment for mom, as Pete Davidson did here for Elsie Hewitt — who appears to be equally in awe of the life they have created. The new dad gushed:

I absolutely love hearing Pete Davidson in this place, especially considering what he’s been through — not just with his father’s death but in the media, where he’s had to come to terms with people being more obsessed with his dating life than his work as an actor. His struggles with addiction and PTSD are well-known, as well as his stints in rehab and trauma therapy.

However, these days the security concerns and public scrutiny that came with dating Kim Kardashian feel like a lifetime ago, and it’s wild to think that we’re now at a stage where his biggest aspirations are to be pushing a baby stroller alongside Machine Gun Kelly and to see a smile on his daughter as friendly as Jon Bernthal’s.

SPOILERS are ahead for His & Hers, now streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Look, I’m all for shocking twists in crime TV shows, but from my perspective the big one found in Netflix’s His & Hers isn’t one. Maybe it’s just me, but when the final moments of the series answered all the questions that had been in my head throughout the bingeable six-episode miniseries, I found myself doing a long sigh rather than feeling like my mind had been blown. Sure, I was definitely surprised, but a few things still don’t add up for me.

The series stars Tessa Thompson as a news anchor named Anna and Jon Bernthal as a detective named Jack who reunite in their small town amidst a murder case. The TV show has received mixed reviews from critics (including a similar 63 percent from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes) and now I totally see why. It’s got one of those love-it or hate-it endings because the true murderer really throws one for a loop. The more I think about the reveal that Anna’s mom Alice (played by Crystal Fox) was a serial killer all along who murdered three of Anna’s former classmates after finding out about them being responsible for Anna being raped on her 16th birthday, the more I don’t like it. Let me talk about why.

Why Would 3 High School Girls Go That Far?

As a former teenage girl, who went to high school and didn’t have the best time getting along with other teenage girls, I totally get their longheld rivalries. But, you simply cannot convince me that three high school girls would orchestrate one of their friends getting raped in the woods while they watch and sing her “Happy Birthday.” All three of them would have to be the same kind of psychotic to watch someone they know be sexually assaulted like that. It’s not only incredibly twisted, but unrealistic in my book.

I know, it’s not a true crime show, and realism doesn’t have to factor in, but the twist was just completely out of nowhere, as well. If they wanted me to buy into this, the story could have at least offered some further context about why these high school girls were so evil, and what they had against Anna so much that they would traumatize her with a girl’s worst nightmare.

It perhaps wouldn’t have taken me out of it so much if her friend group had any character development at all, but when this was revealed it felt like it was chosen simply for shock value rather than any attempt to tell a story with some depth or care around the rape of a teenage girl. Sure, it gives Anna’s mom solid motivation to become a serial killer, but the reveal came off really flat to me otherwise.

I Don’t Think The Character Of Catherine/Lexy Was Fleshed Out Enough

Another thing that bothered me about His & Hers' plot twist was in regards to the character of Lexy, the news anchor for WSK TV News that has replaced Anna in the beginning. As the series’s finale unfolds, we learn that Lexy was actually Catherine, one of Anna’s other classmates who was also bullied by her friend group and almost pulled into the rape as well. She ends up being a red herring, who Anna believes is the murderer at first, but I don’t feel like this twist really worked too well, either, because the character was barely fleshed out.

I can see how being someone who was bullied in high school and uses a different name now would make her an understandable suspect, but why would she have any interest in killing Anna? Anna didn’t do any of the bullying, and she literally ran away knowing her friends were letting some men rape her. The finale fight between Lexy and Anna simply didn’t make sense, unless she’s completely deranged.

Also, I would have appreciated the show implementing her more before that reveal, because it felt so random, given she was barely in the series beforehand. Then there’s the fact that Alice wanted to frame Catherine because of her running away from the scene during Anna’s rape – as if it didn’t dawn on her she was probably afraid for her life, and was another victim in the situation.

Anna & Jack's Reconciling Doesn’t Make Sense To Me

The last thing that really bothered me about the ending of His & Hers was Anna and Jack getting back together. During Alice’s letter, it seemed like she did her daughter a favor to bring her back together with her husband, who she’s now expecting a baby with again. However, the rest of the show brought up so many red flags regarding Jack. For one, Jack was literally having an affair with Rachel, one of the women who caused Anna’s rape. And, when she was murdered by Alice, he broke so many laws to make sure he didn’t get any of the heat regarding the murder.

Alice must have clocked that the truck that Rachel was leaving from right before she murdered her was Jack’s truck, right? Why would she push for them to get back together knowing he was fraternizing with one of the women (not to mention his sister is another one of them) of Anna’s horrible friend group? This is not a happy ending for Anna to me!

While I totally get that these two went through a serious tragedy together, and needed space from each other, and these events brought them closer together, Jack never really apologizes to her for being emotionally absent for her after they lost Charlotte, and given the way he deals with Rachel’s death, he seems like a guy who will lie, cheat and gaslight his loved ones. I still can’t believe he asked his niece to do the swab test for her to cover his butt earlier in the show!

There’s a lot of reasons why I’m frustrated with the latest of the whodunnit shows to come to streaming, but I did enjoy the performances, and it was an easy binge that I sped right through. I do have to wonder if the book it’s based on by Alice Feeney offers more context and a more believable plotline, because it definitely feels like it was missing a few things. Anyways, now that you’ve finished His & Hers, you can check out what’s on the 2026 Netflix schedule next.

We’re in a very weird place when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the 2026 movie schedule, as the upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, a film that would otherwise be a big deal, feels likes its being completely overshadowed by Avengers: Doomsday. Granted, the former film won’t have the incredible cast of heroes of the latter, but it also isn’t going to be without its special appearances as we know Jon Bernthal’s Punisher will be part of the film.

Considering that The Punisher has been one of Marvel‘s more violent characters since his debut (lending himself well for an R-rated adaptation) fans have wondered how he would work in what is almost assuredly a PG-13 Spider-Man movie. Talking to ScreenRant, Jon Bernthal indicated fans shouldn’t be disappointed, as it was “really important” to all involved that they still make The Punisher in Brand New Day feel like the same character. He said…

Bernthal’s comments essentially confirm that the upcoming Punisher special, which will be available with a Disney+ subscription, will be exactly what we’ve come to expect from the character. The Punisher’s return to the MCU in Daredevil: Born Again was just what fans wanted to see. If there was anything wrong with it, it was only that we didn’t see enough of it.

The question was how that would square with the more general audience-friendly Spider-Man movie. Clearly, the character would need to be toned down, right? Fans were voicing this concern as soon as Bernthal’s appearance in the film was rumored. It’s clear from Jon Bernthal’s comments that they were very aware of this concern on the set of Brand New Day, as they had the same concern themselves.

To be fair, the Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day almost certainly will be a bit more family-friendly as far as the level of violence we see. However, that doesn’t mean the character has to feel like he’s been toned down. If the action is handled properly, it can still have the visceral feel that fans know, and it can be done in a way that anything that needed to be changed to achieve a PG-13 rating won’t be missed.

Matching tone between franchises has been a dance the MCU has had to do for a while, and while it perhaps hasn’t been perfect, it has generally worked. If we can see Daredevil at his dark and gritty best in Daredevil: Born Again and see him doing the walk of shame in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, I expect we can see Punisher and Spider-Man together.

This year is set to be a big one for Jon Bernthal, with The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day both hitting the 2026 movie calendar — not to mention the Punisher special coming to Disney+. Tessa Thompson isn’t doing too bad herself, possibly looking at some awards love for her performance in 2025’s Hedda. First, however, the two are starring in the new Netflix limited series His & Hers, which several critics are calling “frustrating,” despite many of them really digging the show.

His & Hers consists of six episodes and is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Alice Feeney. In the thriller, Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal play an estranged couple (a journalist and detective, respectively) investigating a murder while also suspecting each other. Michael Peyton of IGN rates it an “Amazing” 9 out of 10 for the chemistry between the leads that elevates the story into quite the bingeable treat. Peyton writes:

Joel Keller of Decider, meanwhile, is one of the critics frustrated by the upcoming Netflix series. While Keller agrees His & Hers is worth streaming due to the lead actors and the potential for fun twists, the episodes can be “slow-moving to a fault and frustrating as hell.” The critic continues:

Aramide Tinubu of Variety says Tessa Thompson turns in a “fascinating” performance, and the “bonkers” story has a way of seeping into your psyche to shift everything you thought you knew. More from the review:

However, other critics like Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert can’t get past the series’ disappointments. He rates the show 1.5 stars out of 4, saying Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson do so much to try to elevate the product, which makes it “so much more frustrating” that their efforts are wasted. Tallerico writes:

Saloni Gajjar of AV Club gives it a D+, calling it “one of the most frustrating shows of the year” and saying that not even the talented lead actors can salvage the numerous, ridiculous plot holes. Gajjar continues:

The critics all seem to agree that Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal bring their A-game to His & Hers; it’s just a question of whether or not the series overall is worth the apparent frustrations. If you want to check out the mystery thriller, all six episodes have hit the 2026 TV schedule and are available to stream now with a Netflix subscription.

It’s the first full week of 2026, and January is often a dead zone when it comes to theatrical releases. The 2026 movie schedule is no exception, but luckily, the world of streaming is more than able to pick up the slack. There are plenty of great streaming movies this month, and plenty of TV series are getting underway to keep you interested for the next several weeks.

The Pitt, Season 2 - January 8 (HBO Max)

The Pitt was one of the best new shows of 2025 and is absolutely one of the best reasons to have an HBO Max subscription. While so many other streaming hits can make us wait multiple years before giving us a new season, the hospital drama starring Noah Wiley isn’t making us wait. The Pitt Season 2 drops its first hour this week. The new season will take place on the Fourth of July, which will certainly lead to many emergencies for the doctors on call.

The Traitors, Season 4 - January 8 (Peacock)

The Traitors has become one of the biggest reality competition series of the streaming era, so you can be sure there will be millions of fans making sure they have their Peacock subscription up to date when the new season arrives this week.

His & Hers - January 8 (Netflix)

Tessa Thompson might find herself in the Oscar hunt thanks to Hedda, and Jon Bernthal is likely to have a huge 2026 as the Punisher in Spider-Man Brand: New Day and his own Disney+ special, but with a Netflix subscription this week, you can see them together in His & Hers. They play an estranged couple, he a police detective and she a journalist, investigating a murder together, while also suspecting each other might be guilty of the crime.

People We Meet on Vacation - January 9 (Netflix)

While I will go to the mat for the theatrical experience, there’s little argument that audiences more broadly don’t go to the movies as much anymore. One casualty of this change has been the character-driven romance. Luckily, we have streaming platforms like Netflix picking up the slack. Based on the novel of the same name, People We Meet on Vacation follows two old friends who spend one week a year going on vacation together, and the romance that eventually grows between them.

The Night Manager, Season 2 - January 11 (Prime Video)

The Night Manager, based on the John Le Carre novel, was one of the most popular and successful TV series ever when it debuted way back in 2016. It’s wild that it took nearly a decade for a second season to arrive. Of course, star Tom Hiddleston has been kind of busy since then. While the show was on cable the first time around, you’ll need a Prime Video subscription to watch Season 2.

With new seasons of Bridgerton, new additions to the Game of Thrones franchise,m and the first piece of the marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026 dropping this month, January may be cold, but the content is staying hot all month along.

I'm psyched for Jon Bernthal's Punisher to clash with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but his latest comments just jogged my memory in the best way. That upcoming Marvel movie matchup isn’t their only collaboration on the way. The man behind Frank Castle and the Peter Parker actor are actually set to share the screen twice, and suddenly the 2026 movie schedule looks like a full-on Bernthal–Holland takeover, and I couldn’t be more pumped.

While appearing at Tokyo Comic-Con 2025 (via The Direct), Bernthal was asked about Brand New Day. He stayed tight-lipped on story details but casually dropped a reminder that caught me off guard. Before suiting up for Marvel, the former Walking Dead actor had already worked with the Uncharted star on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey. That means audiences will see the two actors together in back-to-back projects that couldn’t be more different. As Bernthal himself put it:

This is a great reminder that this isn’t a one-and-done Marvel team-up. It’s a reunion that will unfold across two major 2026 movie releases, arriving just months apart, in films that couldn’t be more different in scale or tone. The Wolf of Wall Street alum has known Holland long enough to see the whole arc, and that history clearly shapes how he talks about working with him now:

Bernthal’s comments make it pretty clear that working with the Crowded Room veteran wasn’t just a pleasant experience, but one he’d happily repeat. There’s an ease to the way he talks about Tom Holland that goes beyond standard movie promotion, and it leaves the door wide open for this not to be their last time sharing the screen once Brand New Day hits theaters.

That timing also lines up with where Marvel seems to be taking Spidey next. The franchise has been steadily pulling Peter Parker back to street level, focusing less on universe-ending stakes and more on boots-on-the-ground conflicts. In that kind of world, running into someone like the Punisher feels almost inevitable, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Spider-Man’s orbit starts overlapping with more of the Defenders' corner of the MCU.

Punisher’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day also comes with a few intriguing question marks. One rumor floating around suggests Frank Castle won’t be operating alone, with reports pointing to the introduction of a new sidekick pulled from the comics. Allegedly, the character will be a female ally, possibly played by Sadie Sink, though Marvel is keeping everything about her role tightly under wraps for now. If true, it could add another unexpected layer to an already interesting Spider-Man crossover.

Either way, 2026 is shaping up to be a packed year for the two actors. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey arrives in theaters on July 17, followed just two weeks later by Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31.

Besides Charlie Cox cameoing as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home, characters from the Marvel Netflix era have largely been kept out of the film corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that’s about to change. Not only is Cox rumored to suit up as Daredevil in next year’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but we’ll also see Jon Bernthal reprising Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher. With a little over half a year to go until Brand New Day’s release on the 2026 movies schedule, Bernthal shared what was “really important” to him when it came to including the gun-toting vigilante in the upcoming Marvel movie.

Although it’s been confirmed that Bernthal will not be back for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 following his big return to the Marvel space in Season 1, next year will also see him leading his own Disney+ subscription-exclusive Punisher TV special. This special will be released on the 2026 TV schedule around the same time as Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s arrival. As the actor told ScreenRant, it was important to both him and Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of the upcoming Spider-Man movie, that there be the right kind of cohesion between the two projects:

So the events of this Punisher special will occur after what goes down in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and from Jon Bernthal’s perspective, it’ll be a seamless transition from one to the other. I’m glad he feels this way, especially considering the differing maturity levels of the movie and TV special. Brand New Day will be Bernthal’s first time playing The Punisher in a PG-13 story, whereas the special will bring him back to more comfortable R-rated territory.

It sounds like there won’t be a drastic tonal shift between Punisher’s depiction in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the Punisher special, in contrast to when we saw the more lighthearted Daredevil in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law before the gritty Echo and Daredevil: Born Again. Granted, there’ll be less gore and cursing when Frank Castle crosses paths with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in Brand New Day, but the character’s overall gruff demeanor will remain intact. It’s fitting that we’re finally getting to see these two characters interact in live action considering that Punisher made his first comic book appearance in 1974’s The Amazing Spider-Man #129.

Officially, we still don’t know how Punisher fits into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will also include Mark Ruffalo returning as Hulk, Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan becoming The Scorpion, and Sadie Sink playing a still-yet-to-be-identified character. Unofficially, it’s rumored that Spidey and Punisher will team up to battle Lonnie Lincoln, a.k.a. Tombstone, played by Marvin Jones III. We’ll know for sure when the movie swings into theaters on July 31, 2026.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly releasing new projects, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie heading to theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and there are tons of questions about what director Destin Daniel Cretton has up his sleeve. There are a ton of rumors about Sadie Sink's mysterious role, and a new rumor offers a possible connection to Jon Bernthal's Punisher. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is very limited, so moviegoers are filling in the blanks with theories and rumors. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are thrilled about Hulk and Punisher having roles, and a new rumor from ScreenRant about Sink offers another character she might be playing: Punisher sidekick Rachel Cole-Alves.

In the comics, Rachel is a former Marine and a vigilante who is an ally of The Punisher. She wears his signature logo, and uses his same methods of firearms to take down villains. She's also a redhead, which is partly why folks think that's who Sadie Sink is playing in Brand New Day... especially if the new Spider-Man movie is focused on street-level crime in NYC.

This is just one fan theory about Sink's role in the next Spider-Man movie, so we should probably take it with a grain of salt. Still, it would be awesome to see the breakout star of Stranger Things (which is streaming with a Netflix subscription) fighting alongside Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle. Hopefully, we get information about who she is actually playing sooner rather than later.

This theory about Sink playing Rachel may offer more validity to another Brand New Day rumor about Punisher getting a sidekick. While I originally thought this was an opportunity to bring back Giorgia Whigham's Amy from the Punisher TV series, pairing Sink with Bernthal is also a thrilling concept.

Of course, this isn't the only rumor about who Sadie Sink might be playing in the next Spider-Man movie. News of her casting started a number of theories, including that she might play Mary Jane Watson. Another popular choice was X-Man Jean Grey, especially with the mutants becoming a bigger presence in the MCU. Hopefully, the studio offers some concrete information about her role soon.

While we wait for the studio to confirm the actress's role, all eyes are on what will happen with Sadie Sink's signature character Max in Stranger Things Season 5. The story of Hawkins is coming to an end, and the last time we saw Max, she was in a coma as a result of Vecna's attack.

Stranger Things will return for Season 5 on November 26th. As for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that'll arrive in theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long before finding out exactly who Sadie Sink is playing.

Tom Holland’s Peter Parker teaming up with other superheroes has become a trademark of the MCU’s Spider-Man movies, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day is kicking things up several notches on that front. Multiple protagonists from various corners of this superhero franchise are expected to appear in the upcoming Marvel movie. Jon Bernthal’s Punisher was the first announced to be coming back, and fans hyped for the character’s return will be pleased about this rumor claiming who we’ll see him fight.

Per scooper DanielRPK (via Heroic Hollywood), Bernthal’s version of Frank Castle will allegedly come into “direct conflict” with the crime lord Tombstone. It was reported last month that Black Lightning alum Marvin Jones III will play the live-action version of Lonnie Lincoln after having previously voiced him in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Considering The Punisher’s M.O., it should come as no surprise that Tombstone would be one of his targets.

Assuming this information is accurate, this likely means that Tombstone will not be Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s main antagonist. Rather, he’ll instead be a supporting antagonist, be it as an ally for Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan, a.k.a. Scorpion, or causing his own trouble on the side. Whatever the case, Punisher will set his sights on him, and since this is a Spider-Man movie first and Peter Parker will surely swing in to help out whether Frank wants him there or not.

While Brand New Day marks Tombstone’s first live-action appearance, an alternate MCU timeline version of the character was seen earlier this year in the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. That Lonnie, however, is much younger than the one we’ll see on the big screen. Of course, Jon Bernthal’s been playing The Punisher for nearly a decade now, stretching back to Daredevil Season 2 and his own spinoff series. Bernthal returned to the role earlier this year for Daredevil: Born Again’s first season, and his appearances in Season 2 and the Punisher TV special will precede Brand New Day.

As for those other superheroes mentioned earlier for the upcoming Spider-Man movie, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk was the next to be unveiled, although Ruffalo was staying cagey about his involvement as of a month ago. Then Florence Pugh was rumored to be reprising Yelena Belova, and now there’s speculation that Charlie Cox will reprise Matt Murdock following his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, though this time he’d also be suited up as Daredevil as well. Additionally, although Vincent D’Onofrio isn’t expect to reprise Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, allegedly his anti-vigilante stance as New York City’s mayor will factor into the story.

Considering that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher has so far only been featured in R-rated/adjacent MCU projects, I’m curious to see how he’ll do within the PG-13 confines of Spider-Man: Brand New Day when it comes out on July 31, 2026. More specifically, will Tombstone make it out of this movie alive or with a fatal bullet wound?

With so many rumors flying around regarding the upcoming Marvel movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day, it’s never easy to know which ones are totally legit, and which ones should be treated as nonsense. Will this be Tom Holland’s final Spidey movie? Will we see The Punisher getting a sidekick? Those answers and more are still up in the air without more proof, but I can’t deny how intrigued I am by newfound speculation about Charlie Cox’s Daredevil popping up in the webslinger’s next adventure.

One big reason why I’m not automatically dismissing these Daredevil rumors is that they’re not just lofty hopes with tenuous connections to Jon Bernthal’s involvement, and are instead inspired by recent changes to Charlie Cox’s upcoming commitments. As it happens, he was set to appear at San Antonio’s SpaceCon from October 24-26, and was at one point set for photo ops with former co-star Krysten Ritter, though that’s no longer happening, as noted in the post below.

As far as Charlie Cox's newest projects go, he was revealed to be part of the cast of a new sci-fi movie called Synthetic alongside Haley Bennett, but that report clearly points out that the project's Kentucky-set production has already wrapped, so there's no reason to think that the actor's convention absence is tied into that movie.

Obviously Cox could have signed on for any number of new projects, but it's the fact that he canceled an appearance for it that has fans' radars piqued. Because Jon Bernthal also canceled an upcoming con appearance, as seen below, and it isn't a giant leap in logic to think that the timing is aligned so that both can be filming together for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Check out how NYCC alerted fans in a recent Instagram post:

• We’re disappointed to share that due to his production schedule, Jon Bernthal can no longer attend NYCC 2025. We hope to have him join us in the future. 

I think we can all agree that if all of this rescheduling is happening for projects that AREN'T Spider-Man: Brand New Day, then....well, that'd just be unfortunate, really.

To play devil's advocate right quick, it's obviously possible (or even likely) that Charlie Cox isn't joining any other big-screen MCU films, despite his Born Again co-star Bernthal making the transition from the upcoming Punisher Special Presentation to teaming up with Tom Holland's Spidey. The movie is already bringing in Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, the villain Scorpion and other surprises, so also throwing Daredevil into the mix for a single action sequence or two might be overdoing it for a movie with a solo hero in the title.

But that's enough naysaying, because this is a rumor that I'm extremely hopeful turns out to be true. Maybe I don't need to see Spider-Man, Punisher and Daredevil whopping some ass together in live-action, but it sure would give me something to look forward to in 2026. And why stop there with the speculation?

Is it possible that Krysten Ritter could also appear alongside Daredevil and The Punisher? We know she's already set to return to the role of Jessica Jones for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, so is it completely out of the realms of reality to think that she might also be heading to London to film during this same window? Maybe, maybe not. But if anybody sees her on a plane with Mike Colter, sound the Defender alarm bells.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to hit theaters on July 31, 2026.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled when Jon Bernthal returned as Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again, and he's got a number of other projects coming down the line. The Walking Dead alum recently showed off his ripped abs in a shirtless photo, and fans are asking the important questions about upcoming Marvel movies and shows.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is extremely limited, but fans are hyped that Jon Bernthal's Punisher will be included. He'll also have a role in Born Again Season 2, so it looks like Frank Castle is here to stay. The 48 year-old actor took to Instagram to show how yolked he is lately, check it out below:

Damn! I definitely wouldn't want to be on The Punisher's bad side if I was a villain in the MCU. On top of the character's penchant for killing his foes, clearly he could to a ton of damage with just his fists. And I personally can't wait to see what's coming next for the brutal, fan favorite character.

The comments section is filled with folks thirsting after Bernthal, as well as fans wondering about what he'll do in various MCU projects. Even Billy Russo/Jigsaw actor Ben Barnes joined the discourse, check out some popular responses below:

• Who’s getting punished? - casual_snapshots
• Get it 💀 - benbarnes
• Do a season 3 please. There should be 5 seasons atleast 👀 - remoghosh06
• take it easy on spidey - therealsupes
• Let me tell you something red 🗣 - syzzer_jay

Clearly there's interest in Frank Castle, and fans want to see him pop up in a variety of different projects. While some are hoping we get another season of The Punisher, others are wondering who will get "punished" when he pops up in Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The latter will mark the first time Bernthal's take on the character goes from TV to film, and it should be fascinating to see how he interacts with Tom Holland's Peter Parker.

The comments listed above mentioned both Spider-Man and Daredevil, and I'm eager to see what Punisher's interactions with both of those heroes will be like. While he's got a love-hate relationship with Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock, we've yet to see him meet Tom Holland's Peter Parker. Will the wall crawler's naivety jive with Frank Castle's brutal philosophy? Only time will tell, but with that ripped body I hope Spidey doesn't get into a conflict with the gun-wielding vigilante... even if Punisher doesn't have superpowers.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 doesn't have a release date yet, but it's expected to arrive sometime in March. And Bernthal is clearly going to look ripped AF in both titles.

One of my most anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is definitely Tom Holland’s fourth outing as the wall-crawler. Of what we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Hulk, and The Punisher are both set to appear in the 2026 movie release, and as absurd as that sounds and had me concerned, a new fan theory about why they might be showing up sounds pretty legit.

A recent Screen Rant article lays out a fan theory that suggests Hulk and the Punisher really show up in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, not just as a spike the cameo meter, but to be mirrors for Peter Parker’s anger once that lingering symbiote fragment starts poking the bear. They lay out the clearest version of this theory: with a piece of Venom left in the MCU after No Way Home, the symbiote gravitates toward characters with volatile rage—hello, Bruce Banner and Frank Castle—before inevitably testing Peter himself. Dun-dun-dun!

It's also reported that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk are in the mix alongside returning faces like Scorpion and a mystery role for Sadie Sink. Story-wise, it’s tidy.

Hulk represents rage that’s been integrated—accept the monster, learn to live with it. Punisher represents rage unleashed—weaponize the monster and call it justice. Put both on either side of Peter, and you get a clean thematic vise, and if the symbiote does indeed show up and dials up his grief and guilt, which path does he take?

It also fits the post-No Way Home’s ending and universe reset. Peter’s flying solo, the stakes are smaller but sharper, and the emotional math matters more than the spectacle. Using Hulk and Punisher as moral foils is a smarter swing than stacking six villains and hoping the noise carries the day. If this theory is right, the final act isn’t “Who can punch harder?” but could be something as philosophical as “Who do you become when anger wins?”

A couple more dots connect neatly. That post-credits symbiot tease practically begs to reenter the story, and letting it sample Banner and Castle before bonding with Peter gives the symbiote real narrative teeth. You can even tease the return of Savage Hulk if the black suit short-circuits Smart Hulk’s balance—instant stakes, no Marvel multiverse required.

And yes, there are credible signs that the casting pieces are in place. Trade coverage in recent weeks has spotlighted Bernthal’s big-screen Frank Castle return, while chatter around Ruffalo’s involvement has picked up as Brand New Day marches toward its July 31, 2026, date. Take everything with a spider-sized grain of salt until it’s on a poster or teaser trailer, but the pieces line up with this anger-driven premise—and I’m into it. If you’re going to bring in other Marvel heroes, they should add thematic weight; this theory does.

If this is why Hulk and Punisher are part of Brand New Day, the most convincing reason is also the cleanest—both are living caution labels for what the symbiote might pull out of Peter. That’s grounded, personal storytelling and exactly what the next Spidey chapter needs. It’s a thematic lesson the filmmakers of the next Tom Holland flick can take from Spider-Man 2, which I’ve written about before. We’ll see how much of this fan theory sticks as Marvel and Sony peel back the curtain closer to the film’s release.

Until then, fans can revisit all the Marvel movies in order, as they’re streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly treating fans to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will finally bring Tom Holland's character back to the MCU. There's also rumors that Mark Ruffalo's Hulk will play a role, and now he's finally broken his silence on that idea.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is very limited, but production has been underway. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been wondering about Peter Parker's future, especially after the twist ending of No Way Home. Ruffalo recently spoke to THR about his reported role in the blockbuster, and how hyped he is to potentially work with Jon Bernthal. In his words:

Well, now I'm confused. Because if Ruffalo doesn't even have a script for Spider-Man 4 is he actually going to appear? Marvel security is crazy about scripts, but since Brand New Day has been seen filming exterior shots, I would have assumed the Poor Things actor would at least have read his role. For now I'm going to hold out hope that Hulk/ Bruce Banner gets included in the forthcoming blockbuster.

Of course, it's possible that the 13 Going on 30 icon is simply lying to guard spoilers. Ruffalo famously spoiled the end of Infinity War, and he and Tom Holland are arguably the most notorious of the Marvel stars for spilling the beans. So perhaps he's simply telling a fib about the script.

Later in the same interview, Ruffalo went on to share how hyped he is to collaborate with Bernthal, who recently returned to the MCU as The Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again. As he put gushed:

Honestly, relatable. Bernthal has had a long and varied resume, including his acclaimed tenures on The Walking Dead and the MCU. Ruffalo also name dropped his friendship and collaboration with Lena Dunham, who directed Bernthal in 2022's Sharp Stick. Given how much respect Ruffalo has for him, I'd love to see Frank Castle and Bruce Banner interact in the new Spider-Man movie. Make it happen, Kevin Feige!

Back in June it was confirmed that Jon Bernthal would play The Punisher in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, marking his first time going from TV to film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For years fans have wanted to see more street-level heroes on the big screen, and that's exactly what we'll be getting. Let's just hope that Hulk is there for the fun too.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters July 31st of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get more information about Mark Ruffalo's role sooner rather than later.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps the fandom on their collective toes, thanks to new releases hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will feature Jon Bernthal's Punisher in the character's first jump from TV to film. A rumor about the movie claimed that he's even getting a sidekick, and I really hope this could mean the return of a character from his Netflix series.

What we know about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is super limited, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are thrilled about the inclusion of Frank Castle/The Punisher. A rumor from scooper MTTSH (via SuperheroHype) made a bold prediction about the blockbuster, claiming:

While I'm taking this with a grain of salt, reading this brought me immediately back to one character: Giorgia Whigham's Amy Bendix from The Punisher Season 2. She accidentally got herself involved with the drama surrounding Frank Castle, and the two managed to form a strong bond. With their business done they went separate ways, but wouldn't it be cool if Amy returned to support the vigilante antihero when he needs it?

Obviously we don't even know if the rumor about a sidekick will come to fruition just yet. And even if it is, bringing back Whigham as Amy might be a stretch. But we're only getting more connections to the Netflix shows in the MCU as years go by.

It's just an idea, but this would be a thrilling connection for fans who watched all of former Netflix MCU shows. Before Disney+ was established Netflix produced shows set in the shared universe: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher. We're getting more of these crossing over with current projects recently, thanks to projects like Daredevil: Born Again. Its first season included Punisher, and the second has already been confirmed to bring back Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones.

In The Punisher Season 2, Amy is a grifter who finds her crew murdered after taking on a particularly dangerous job. She runs into Frank Castle by accident, and the two end up taking a bloody journey of discovery, deception, and ultimately trust. They both survive the events of the season, and I assume they would have had more adventures if a third season happened.

Only time will tell if Frank Castle has an associate, and whether or not it's Amy. All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, Bernthal's tenure in the MCU is streaming on Disney+.

One of the MCU’s biggest draws right now, at least for me, is the expansion of Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle, which has easily become the best live-action Punisher to date. Seeing him in Daredevil: Born Again was a howl-worthy delight, and I couldn’t be happier that Bernthal is getting his own Marvel Special Presentation offshoot to follow up on the Born Again finale’s post-credit scene. I was also pumped to hear the huge news that The Punisher is joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

However, it wasn’t very long before those initially jubilant feelings started to taper off, with slightly confused curiosity filling out my headspace in their place. Is this actually the best use of Frank Castle on the big screen? How are we getting a Punisher and Spidey team-up without ever seeing Tom Holland’s webslinger battling Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin?

I could keep asking speculative questions like that all day, but will instead focus on my two biggest concerns about this particular crossover. Though a huge amount of fandom conversations have centered on Marvel potentially watering down Frank Castle's R-rated language and hyper-violent behavior for its family-friendly Spider-Man sequel, that's not the biggest source of my perturbation.

The Punisher Needs Street-Level Storytelling, Not Multiversal Chaos

When it comes to origin stories, it doesn't get more compact and hard-boiled than Frank Castle's avenging the deaths of his family, thus kicking off his second life arc as a fearless vigilante. And while the character certainly has a long comic book history that's put him in nearly every kind of conceivable form of large-scale conflict, Jon Bernthal's live-action iteration has exclusively remained tethered to the "real world," as it were.

With his military background and a lack of patience for bullshittery, Frank is most in his element while haunting the shadowy streets of New York City. He's a whiz with any weapon put in his hands, but even when unarmed, his hands become weaponized themselves. As such, he ranks as highly as Daredevil in terms of wowing audiences with shockingly brutal close-up fights.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man movies are not known for feature scenes on shadowy streets, and Peter Parker does not have a penchant for punching enemies' kneecaps out of the backs of their legs. They're more about coming-of-age emotions mixed with heightened science-fiction plotting, culminating in Tom Holland's multiversal team-up with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's Peter Parkers in No Way Home. Not exactly the kind of tale The Punisher would thrive in.

Sure, we don't really know what Brand New Day will be about, and it could very well make a complete about-face from the previous film's expansive lore to hone in on a grittier and smaller-scale narrative. But has Marvel ever gone smaller over bigger with follow-up projects? Very rarely, and I can't imagine it'll go that route with a character as beloved and box office-friendly as Spider-Man.

I Am Not Here For Jon Bernthal's Frank Being Quippy With Peter Parker

If Marvel's Punisher was tag-teaming with Spider-Man for a five-minute adventure, that would be the proper scenario in which I would be fine watching Jon Bernthal's vengeful soldier waxing comedic opposite the quip-master Peter Parker. That's about all I could take before questioning why Frank would still be hanging around without putting Spider in his rear-view.

So I'm definitely concerned about the possibility of Frank having to endure far more on-screen time serving as a listening board for Peter's self-aware humor. I mean, if it leads to Spider-Man and Punisher facing off after Frank gets overly annoyed, I'm into it.

Essentially, though, I just dont' want Jon Bernthal's hardcore hero to get thrown into a less brutal setting just for the sake of the MCU giving him a "fish out of water" story. When it comes to unfamiliar environments, I'd rather see Frank taking on space aliens or taking part in a bonkers fighting tournament, as opposed to anything that hinges heavily on Marvel-branded humor. Just because Bernthal was a hoot in The Accountant 2 (our review), that doesn't mean Frank Castle will be willing to put up with Peter's ding-dong jokes.

All that said, would I want to see Jacob Batalon's Ned Leeds bouncing from Spider-Man movies to being Frank's sidekick in a new Punisher show? Hell yes, I would. Other characters are always free to join Frank's world, even if I'm less open to him visiting others'. But it's not gonna keep me out of the theater seats when the movie comes out.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently set to film following Avengers: Doomsday, with a release date already set on the 2026 movie schedule for July 31, 2026.

Marvel Cinematic Universe fans were treated to some major news this past week, as it was reported that Spider-Man: Brand New Day added a major star. TV fan-favorite Jon Bernthal is set to reprise his famous role of Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher in the buzzy threequel. What makes this news particularly exciting is that it’ll mark Berenthal’s first time playing the role in a big-screen production. People flooded social media on Friday to share their reactions, and a take was later even shared by Berenthal’s colleague, Vincent’ D’Onofrio.

Avid followers of the MCU likely know Vincent D’Onofrio best for his now-iconic turn as Wilson Fisk (the Kingpin), which he most recently reprised for Daredevil: Born Again. Those who are chronically online may also be aware of the fact that he frequently interacts with the fans, sharing his thoughts and answering questions. With that in mind, Kyzo Films tagged D’Onofrio in an X post regarding his TV co-star’s Spidey casting. When responding to the account’s appeal for his thoughts, D’Onofrio simply provided two words:

I’d like to think that sentiment aligns with the feeling that most fans have following the massive casting news. What’s great about the Kingpin actor – aside from his excellent acting chops and jovial personality, in general – is that he’s truly a fan of the material. That was evident in the way that he helped Marvel Studios “correct course” on Born Again amid its creative overhaul. So it doesn’t surprise me at all that, just like so many of us, he’s pumped to see what lies ahead for Frank Castle.

The Punisher’s inclusion in the fourth Spider-Man movie in Tom Holland’s franchise honestly marks the realization of a long-held dream. Many have long wondered whether Frank might ever cross paths with the MCU’s version of Peter Parker. The mere thought of the two fighting crime side by side on the streets of New York is so exciting. I’m not sure exactly what’s going to go down when Jon Bernthal’s Castle meets Holland’s Peter Parker (who doesn’t typically use lethal tactics like the former). Still, I’m excited to find out.

What I’d also be eager to see is Wilson Fisk in any of the upcoming Marvel movies. Vincent D’Onofrio has long been vocal about the fact that he’d love to play the villainous crime boss-turned-mayor in a Spider-Man film Unfortunately, D’Onofrio recently revealed that there’s still legal red tape preventing Kingpin from appearing alongside Peter Parker on the big screen. It’s disappointing for sure, given that the Punisher is set for Brand New Day and Daredevil appears in No Way Home.

It seems fans are just going to have to hold onto hope that maybe one day Vincent D’Onofrio and Tom Holland will get to share the screen in a Marvel film. But, right now, I’m just pleased that Jon Bernthal’s Punisher will get to rub shoulders with the wall crawler and that D’Onofrio is pumped for that as well.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to open in theaters on July 31, 2026. In the meantime, stream Daredevil: Born Again using a Disney+ subscription to get a taste of what Frank Castle is all about.

There’s almost never an easy way to introduce a Marvel character to the big screen. I know that the 2025 movie schedule just may prove us wrong, if it hasn’t already, but I think the biggest WTF is about to be dropped onto the MCU table. That’s because it’s just been announced that another Marvel TV character is about to debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s 2026 slate, thanks to Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

And considering who they brought in for No Way Home, this seems like a pretty dead giveaway. That’s right, kids… it’s Frank “The Punisher” Castle! Jon Bernthal is now set to make his MCU debut on the big screen, as THR broke the news that he’s now in director Destin Daniel Cretton’s upcoming Marvel movie. That’s surely enough to distract us all from trying to guess Sadie Sink’s mysterious Brand New Day role, or what this means about Vincent D’Onofrio’s “off limits” comments when talking about a Kingpin intro, right?

It’s kind of wild that we’re now seeing our second street level defender jumping in through the Spider-Man movies. As I previously alluded, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home before he made his huge resurgence in Daredevil: Born Again. And when it comes to Peter Parker (Tom Holland), having him potentially pick up The Punisher’s anti-hero as a mentor makes sense, both in the comics and in the wake of No Way Home’s ending.

We’re about to see Peter enter a new era of his life, where he’ll potentially be balancing a job at the Daily Bugle and classes with Dr. Otto Octavius. Hence the Brand New Day subtitle, which also cleverly works in a reference to the comic arc that saw Peter Parker embark on a massive redo after the “One Day More” arc.

I’ll leave all of the details to the comic inclined, but with Peter Parker not having MJ or Ned by his side, he’s going to need some new side characters to help him through. While I wouldn’t have automatically chosen Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle for the job in a PG-13 movie, I’m now deeply curious to see how this ends up working.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to hit theaters on July 26, 2026! And if you want to see what Frank Castle has been up to as of late, then you can stream the first season of Daredevil: Born Again, currently available on Disney+. Maybe there’s a clue to this upcoming team up that we’ve missed, hiding in plain sight.

The Accountant 2 has been seeing plenty of box office success since its premiere on the 2025 movie calendar, with fans loving how surprisingly funny Ben Affleck is and — as is pointed out in CinemaBlend’s review of The Accountant 2 — how it balances violence and heart. Affleck and co-star Jon Bernthal have a great rapport on-screen, but what happened when the actors put each other to the test with some personal questions?

Digging deeper into Braxton and Christian’s dynamic has been one of the most celebrated aspects of The Accountant 2 (other than Ben Affleck’s line-dancing, of course). That chemistry definitely translated off-screen as they proved how well they know each other in a “Bestie Quiz” for Complex that they shared to Instagram:

It’s easy to see how having these two actors play off of each other might lead to The Accountant 2 blowing its predecessor out of the water on Rotten Tomatoes, but as far as their questions go, I was just as surprised as Jon Bernthal during this exchange:

• Affleck: What city was I born in?
• Bernthal: Boston, Massachusetts.
• Affleck: Close.
• Bernthal: What do you mean?
• Affleck: I was actually born in California, I lived there for a year.
• Bernthal: That’s bullshit, really?
• Affleck: Yeah … it’s like a little trick answer.

Jon Bernthal was so confident when he said Boston, and for good reason! Ben Affleck is literally known as “the Hollywood guy from Boston.” Bernthal rebounded from the miss by knowing his co-star’s favorite snack:

• Affleck: What’s one snack I like?
• Bernthal: He likes Diet Coke.
• Affleck: Yes!

I’m not sure I would typically count a calorie-free beverage as a snack, but I’ll go with it. And as a fellow Diet Coke sommelier, I concur with Mr. Affleck that fountain Diet Coke is superior to the can or bottle. The Gone Girl star struggled a bit to reciprocate, but I think he pulled it out in the end:

• Bernthal: What’s my favorite snack?
• Affleck: Your favorite snack is, like, some like bullshit healthy fucking bar or something like that. Boxing fucking bars.

The Diet Coke guy judging Jon Bernthal’s “bullshit healthy fucking bar” is pretty rich, I gotta say. Ben Affleck also couldn’t name Bernthal’s favorite football team (the Commanders), but at least they both passed the Marvel test and were able to name Daredevil and The Punisher as each other’s MCU character.

It’s pretty fun to see these two interact outside of their movie, and it’s not like the questions got TOO personal, where a wrong answer would have made things uncomfortable. This was definitely not the same situation Ben Affleck’s ex-wife faced a year ago when Simu Liu shut down a reporter who asked Jennifer Lopez personal questions about her marriage.

Maybe that reporter should have stuck to JLo’s favorite snack.

You can see Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal in The Accountant 2, which is in theaters now, and keep an eye out for Affleck’s other upcoming movies.

While the film industry is dominated by major franchises and cinematic universes, some properties end up growing more accidentally. Case in point: Ben Affleck's burgeoning property The Accountant, which began with the original 2016 film and continues with its first sequel. That blockbuster included an outstanding and unique performance by Ben Affleck as protagonist Christian Wolff, thrilling action, as well as some truly mind-blowing twists. Fans have been calling for a sequel for years, and after nearly a decade, The Accountant 2 is finally approaching theaters. And I've got to say, I might like it even more than its predecessor.

The Accountant 2 is set years after the events of the 2016 original, with Affleck's Christian Wolff once again involved in a high stakes adventure. He's contacted by Agent Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson, reprising her role from the original), and tasked with solving a murder. But this time around he's not doing the job alone... even if he wants to.

One of the big twists of the original movie was that Jon Bernthal's character Braxton was actually Christian's brother. With that reveal out of the way, director Gavin O'Connor and writer Bill Dubuque put these siblings at the front of the story and allow audiences to watch as they try to connect in as a violent buddy duo. And it's in this dynamic that I think the movie is surpasses the success of first film.

Ben Affleck’s Christian Wolff is endlessly charming.

Ben Affleck has had a long and wildly successful career as an actor, so it's well known that he's able to pull of moving and memorable performances. And while I loved his take on classics like Good Will Hunting and his jaded, hulking take on Batman, Christian Wolff is one of his very best characters. Despite the years in between Accountant films, he is able to perfectly slip back into character for the long-awaited sequel.

In both films, Wolff is portrayed as neurodivergent, with his specific form of autism offering him an analytical mind a unique set of skills. While he's wildly effective and a total badass, vulnerability and charm comes in the ways he struggles socially. Affleck's first scene in The Accountant 2 sees Christian attempt speed dating, with the audience treated to a montage of foibles.

While Affleck is known for playing badasses (and indeed, Christian knows his way around a shoot out), it's the way that he portrays the character's flaws that make him so lovable. Much of this happens in the way that he interacts with Jon Bernthal's Braxton. But more about that particular dynamic later.

The action and twists deliver and result in The Accountant 2 flying by.

In addition to Ben Affleck's acclaimed performance as the title character, The Accountant is primarily known for its plot twists and thrilling action. Gavin O'Connor once again hit it out of the park in this new chapter in both regards, and the movie's 132-minute runtime really moves quickly as a result.

There are a ton of action pieces in The Accountant 2, both gunfights and dizzying hand to hand combat. And while the fight choreography is like a thrilling dance, the violence feels very real and anxiety-induing. Characters, including major returning ones, take a serious beating as a result, allowing each of these sequences to have palpable stakes. And after one big plot twist in the opening sequence, it's clear that no one is safe.

The murder mystery at the center of this movie's story ends up connecting to a much larger ring of criminal activity including human trafficking. O'Connor and screenwriter Bill Dubuque methodically peel back this story in a way that's wildly satisfying by the time the third act comes to a close. Fear not fans of the original, there are still twists this time around, – and by the end of the film, all of its storylines are tied up with a neat bow.

The sibling story between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal was genuinely moving.

While The Accountant 2 follows a giant mystery that extends across multiple countries, the real heart of the story is about the relationship between Affleck's Christian and Bernthal's Braxton. It's revealed early into the runtime that they haven't seen each other since the events of the first film, allowing audiences to pick up where they left off and see how the brothers' relationship works from the inside.

While Braxton is a brash and violent killer, he wants his family's approval like so many of us. While the brothers butt heads pretty immediately in the movie, we slowly learn just how hurt Bernthal's character is that his brother never reached out. He clearly wants a deeper relationship, while Christian has trouble understanding what it is his brother needs from him.

Of course, this storyline plays out as the duo are kicking ass and taking names, including some truly dazzling shoot-out sequences. Affleck and Bernthal are known for being excellent in these types of scenes, but they seemingly brought just as much care to the moments of stillness between Christian and Braxton. These two actors are really some of the best in the business, and they're able to expertly pivot between action, heart, and comedy throughout The Accountant 2.

Ben Affleck’s got quite a few movies in the works, both as an actor and with his production company, but one of the most anticipated Affleck projects is the long-awaited sequel, The Accountant 2. The two-time Oscar winner is reprising his role as Christian Wolff for the 2025 movie calendar, and critics had the opportunity to screen the action thriller ahead of its April 25 debut in theaters. Let’s see if we want to make this movie part of our weekend plans.

First reactions from The Accountant 2’s SXSW premiere praised the expansion of Jon Bernthal’s role as the title character’s brother Braxton, as the two team up to track down a murderer. Overall, did Ben Affleck avoid the pitfall of making a sequel? Critic Richard Crouse seems to think so, giving it 4 out of 5 stars and writing:

Kim Newman of Empire, meanwhile, rates the upcoming action movie 3 stars out of 5, echoing the above sentiment that the “impossibly intricate storyline” is just a way to let the kill-crazy good guys loose on thugs who deserve what they’ve got coming. Newman continues:

Nearly every review I’ve read mentions Ben Affleck’s character line-dancing, so I wonder if that alone is worth the price of admission? Brian Truitt of USA TODAY says The Accountant 2 isn’t quite as good as its 2016 predecessor, but the dynamic between the two brothers and the filmmakers’ willingness to explore an autistic character make this a satisfying watch. The critic gives it 2.5 out of 4 stars, writing:

Jake Coyle of the AP also rates it 2.5 stars out of 4, saying that while Ben Affleck’s “Rain Man shtick” always feels forced, once Jon Bernthal shows up, the sequel clicks into place. Coyle continues:

I can definitely get behind “knowingly silly,” but AV Club’s Jacob Oller doesn’t find much to like in this sequel, which he says buries the rapport of its leads in chaotic action, troubling worldviews and generic plotting. It also doesn’t handle the many facets of neurodiversity delicately, Oller says, writing:

While there are some complaints amongst the critics, the movie has compiled a 79% Fresh score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It sounds like this sequel has dialed down on the numbers from The Accountant (which can be streamed with a Max subscription) in order to ramp up the brotherly love aspect. If you’d like to see more from this neurodivergent ass-kicker, The Accountant 2 hits theaters on Friday, April 25.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of TV and film projects, which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that certain characters are fan favorites, and Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Jon Bernthal's Punisher are definitely in that category. And it turns out they actually helped each other land these roles back in the day.

Following his performance in Daredevil: Born Again's finale, it was revealed that Jon Bernthal is getting a Punisher special next. While some fans hope to see him in upcoming Marvel movies, it turns out that he and Holland help each other land their signature roles. In an IMDb TikTok, the former Walking Dead cast member revealed that Holland always knew he was going to land the role of Peter Parker, saying:

Bernthal and Holland worked together on the movie Pilgrimage, which was filmed back in 2015. That's before either of them joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although it sounds like the Peter Parker actor was sure he was going to get the gig. I mean, can you blame him?

Bernthal shared this story while promoting his role in the upcoming action movie The Accountant 2. He went on to share how he and Holland helped each other land those jobs, saying:

How wild is that? Making self-tapes for auditions is never easy, and actors usually need a friend to read a scene opposite them. And while working together on Pilgrimage, these two actors helped each other out, and each ended up landing these roles. For Tom Holland in particular, this would be a life and career-changing gig that would catapult him into superstardom.

Of course, their time in the MCU has been quite unique from each other's. Jon Bernthal debuted as Frank Castle for those with a Netflix subscription on Season 2 of Daredevil, before getting his own show. Tom Holland debuted as Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War before getting his own trilogy of movies and land appearances in other great Marvel movies, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. And there's unfortunately no indication that their characters might crossover, despite both of them being based in New York City.

Bernthal's appearance in Daredevil: Born Again is streaming now on Disney+, alongside his previous credits in the MCU. The Accountant 2 hits theaters April 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list.

Warning: SPOILERS for the Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 finale are ahead!

Daredevil: Born Again has finished its run on the 2025 TV schedule, but not to worry, this isn’t one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s small screen offerings that’s only sticking around for one season. Born Again Season 2 is officially set on the upcoming Marvel TV shows for a March 2026 release, and as a nice bonus, Jon Bernthal will reprise Frank Castle in a Punisher special that’s also coming out next year. Now that I’ve seen the Born Again Season 1 finale with my Disney+ subscription, I already know how I want Frank’s standalone project to tie into the next season of Matt Murdock’s TV show.

Following his return to the MCU in “Sic Semper Systema” after a six-year absence, Bernthal’s Frank really got to cut loose in “Straight to Hell.” Spurred into action by a phone call from Karen Page, Frank teamed up with Matt Murdock to fight the Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF) officers who were sent to kill Matt at his apartment. But then Frank made the unwise move to take the fight to Red Hook on his own, and he was captured and imprisoned with the rest of Wilson Fisk’s enemies. However, in the Born Again Season 1 finale’s end credits scene, Frank tricked one of the guards into getting too close to him and broke his arm, setting up his escape.

So where do we go with The Punisher from here? Well, for one thing, I highly doubt that Jon Bernthal will only reprise Frank Castle in the Disney+ special. He may have broken free from his cage, but as part of his efforts to eliminate all vigilantes in New York City, you can be sure he’ll instruct the AVTF to hunt down Frank and either recapture him or kill him on sight. Until told otherwise, I’m assuming that Bernthal will be back for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. And to go a step further, I also think that the special will be released before Season 2.

Keeping those things in mind, I’d like to see the Punisher special show Frank Castle building up an arsenal to use against Wilson Fisk and the AVTF. It didn’t look like he had a lot of weaponry at his disposal at the hideout where he took Matt and Karen, and even if he did have more guns tucked away, he could always use more. This is The Punisher, we’re talking about, after all: the man loves to kill bad guys as violently as possible.

Maybe we could see Frank either raid an armory that’s being protected by AFTV officers or steal guns from one of the criminal operations in the Big Apple. Once he has a sizable arsenal, then he can engage in guerrilla warfare against the AVTF and whatever criminals cross his path along the way. The main issue is that this kind of story needs to be done in a way so that people who aren’t watching Daredevil: Born Again can still easily follow along.

But assuming that can be effectively handled, the special can set the stage for Frank Castle’s return in Born Again Season 2. With all the firearms he could ever ask for easily accessible, he can re-team with Matt Murdock and his allies and finally bring topple Mayor Wilson Fisk’s regime. Then Frank and Matt could go their separate ways yet again, with the former hopefully getting another special and the latter ideally coming back for Born Again Season 3.

I’m not a big Punisher fan by any means, but I’ve liked how he was used in the original Daredevil series and also had an enjoyable enough time watching his spinoff series. So I’ll always welcome Jon Bernthal returning to the role, but I’ll be even more pleased if my idea for his special and Daredevil: Born Again Season 2.

Spoilers below for anyone who isn’t watching Daredevil: Born Again’s Season 1 finale with a Disney+ subscription.

I can still recall the sting of learning that Netflix canceled Daredevil after Season 3, and the worry that Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk may never grace the screen together again. Thankfully, no one could keep the vigilante and the Kingpin down for the count, and it’s rather incredible that we’re now here to (hopefully) celebrate the conclusion of Daredevil: Born Again’s solidified-through-reconfiguration first season.

Like many fans, I’ve enjoyed the mostly weekly episode drops, but having to wait a full week after seeing Matt become Pointdexter’s second target of the season has been a strain, especially without a hint of Jon Bernthal in the penultimate ep. So please join me as I live-blog Episode 9, "Straight to Hell,” with the hopes of seeing way more of Frank Castle here ahead of The Punisher’s eventual standalone special and whatever other upcoming MCU TV shows are smart enough to use him.

Note that while the article is live, posts appear in reverse-chronological order, and revert to chronological order when it is no longer live.

Thanks For Joining Me, Daredevil Fans!

I think we’re all in for a good pummeling tonight, both from Daredevil’s fists and, you know, from like, emotions and shit. But before any of the good stuff goes down, let me throw a few hopes out there into the ethers:

• Foggy returns from the dead, or just returns not dead
• Karen returns, but also not dead
• The Punisher clones himself
• Matt and Heather split up in a big, juicy, dramatic way
• Fisk's entire Task Force become target practice for Pointdexter's lethal spitballs

It's So Close I Can Taste It Even Without Super-Senses

A final toast to the first eight Season 1 episodes before we slam our faces down violently into this finale!

Starting Off With A Flashback

I can't say I would have predicted Daredevil: Born Again's swan song kicking off with a reference to Jay Ali's Ran Nadeem, but I'll take it, I suppose.

I'm not sure how much we should be reading into Vanessa touching Pointdexter's hands so much while convincing him to sign that paperwork, but it seemed to work like a charm. Well maybe not a charm, since it led to Foggy and Matt getting shot.

Worked like a 'harm. There it is.

I cannot believe they just faked me out with a Karen hallucination, and then it turned out to be Heather. WHY, TV SHOW, WHY?!?

Fisk Kinda-Sorta Puts A Hit Out

Wilson Fisk namechecking Gallo in an optimistic way feels destined to blow up in his face. And yelling at his staff (even if it's justified) doesn't exactly help.

And then he's gonna follow all that up by threatening Matt's life?!? By sending that dork Cashman?!? (I know the character has a comic history, but this live-action version is a nerve-grating dingus.)

For all of his own problems, I can appreciate anytime someone in any position of power can say a statement like this with confidence, even if it's just acting:

Which of course then leads to complete chaos across the city.

But look who failed to get his target: Cashman.

Hell Yeah, Frank Is Here Baby!

Nobody else can just jump into an MCU property and say a line like this that makes one feel both threatened and empathetic to Frank's plight:

A guy like that needs his caffeine, you know?

Epic Fight #1

Oh. My. Red. Horned. Devil. God. That was one hell of an action sequence in every good way possible.

So many faces smashed. So many bones broken. So many bullets put just through that one guy's face and that desk. So many squelching noises as Frank went blade-crazy on that other guy.

In most cases, I'd be bothered that Matt didn't knock the radio out of that Task Force agent before he alerted others about Frank's presence, but at this point, I want them to come and get their asses ripped apart and fed to them, or whatever Frank has cooked up.

Karen Karen Bo Baren!

It would have been baffling if Deborah Ann Woll had returned only to film that one fakeout scene. But no, she's back! And in the same room with both Frank and Matt! It's the dream team!

Of course this show IMMEDIATELY split up the dream team, and then Frank reminded her that he paid his favor back, making it sound like he had no plans on seeing her again in the near future. So, kind of a net-negative, but still! Karen!

Even though Daniel Blake as a character doesn't excite me very much, I do love the way that Michael Gandolfini is able to appear completely warm and cuddly in one second, and like a possessed psychopath in the next. I gotta hope his pops would be proud.

Now We Know What The Fisks Are Up To

Karen and Matt just can't let things like feelings and happiness to see each other stop them from fulfilling the mission. So it's good that Karen was able to immediately figure out the big secret behind the Fisks' plan.

Red Hook' charter makes it a free port, which Vanessa has taken advantage of with her stored art. They want to make Red Hook a city/stage, at least that's how Matt sees it.

The Punisher Gets Punished

Kudos to Frank for trying to enact some justice by taking out some of the Task Force members that were showing zero discretion about their murderous patterns. And he certainly did take down some of them.

But sadly not everyone, and it was more depressing than I thought to watch him get whooped up on before having to sit tied up in front of a bunch of poseur shitbags in skull-emblazoned garb.

I wish we'd have the chance to see all of those cops on fire to test whether or not Frank would piss on them or not.

This Franchise's First Jaw-Ripping Murder

I don't know if it's poetic exactly that we've gone from Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin slamming someone's head into a pulp with a car door to the point where he's ripping faces off of police commissioners in full view of others as a Mayor of a metropolis. But it has certainly been fun to watch this evolution in brutality all the same.

I thought he was going to squeeze Gallo's head until it popped or something, but no, he was just loosining the man's head bones until it was all malleable enough to just rip that sucker off of the rest of his skull.

His post-face-destroying etiquette is on point, at the very least.

Martial Law In New York City, Because Fisk Said So

This is all going to go very well for everyone. That's my prediction. Foolproof.

Josie's Is Back! But Fisk Is Keeping His Enemies In Cages...

I thought I was ready to get hyped about Josie's actually looking like it will be open again in the foreseeable future, and that it already had quite a few friendly customers to help a city's vigilante in need.

But then the episode went and took us into the Fisks' underground lair, where a bunch of their opposers like the Swordsman and...sadly, Frank. It sucked to see Punisher all chained up like that.

Especially after seeing quick shots of all the other main characters in Daredevil: Born Again that 100% deserve to be caged for a while.

Post-Credits Punisher Goodness

Thankfully, we didn't have to wait very long to get a reassuring resolution for Frank Castle's state of confined plight. Because he clearly got paired up with the biggest dipshit of all the guards who could have been keeping an eye on everyone. Like, he should have had some pride in front of all the other prisoners by feeding right into Frank's plan.

Which is all to say, I don't feel sorry for that guy or any of his shattered bones.

Also, I know this is Daredevil: Born Again and all, but I could not be happier that this first season full-on embraced the fact that this corner of the Marvel-verse is where fans first met Jon Bernthal's Punisher and first heard Frank Castle''s hauntingly primal screams.

Final Thoughts

On a scale of 1-10 Batons To The Throat, where 10 is the more positive score, I'd give "Straight to Hell" an A for Absolute Visceral Joy. Wait, that score doesn't sound right at all. Maybe I got hit in the head during one of those fight scenes.

In hindsight, though, it was about as dour and downbeat an ending as it gets for a superhero series, with the bad guys coming out on top and most of the good guys left to heal up in the dark before setting up for a renewed attempt to take the city back from its corrupted mayor and his growing army of sycophants. Of course he gave Heather a promotion. Ugh. How did anyone ever trust her with their inner thoughts?

It says something that the final shot we get of Daredevil himself isnt' in any kind of an intimidating hero pose, but through a torn hole in one of Josie's papered-up windows. The only spot of brightness to be found is the blue in Karen's eyes. Otherwise, it's a sad, sad day for Lady Justice.

Except for when Frank made it clear he was about to escape Fisk's secret prison.

We Did It!

Thanks to everyone who read along with me live while the episode aired, and an equal thanks to those who are reading after the fact. I think we can all agree there's no wrong time to watch Frank Castle break someone's face open on the edge of a table.

And now we wait for Season 2, and to find out who Matthew Lillard will be playing for his MCU debut.

One last round for the night to share this thank you post from Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Darjo Scardapane. Congrats on a job well done.

At this point, it feels like there is almost nobody left in Hollywood who isn’t part of a major superhero franchise. When you add in those who have been part of previous franchises, the list of actors who have never played masked vigilantes gets even smaller. This is why even a movie like The Accountant 2 looks like a superhero crossover, as it co-stars both The Punisher and Daredevil.

Jon Bernthal is the official MCU Punisher (again) thanks to his appearance in the nearly completed first season of Daredevil: Born Again, but his next movie will be opposite the previous big screen Daredevil, i.e. Ben Affleck, when the two appear in the upcoming movie The Accountant 2. Our old Reelblend host Jake Hamilton recently asked the pair about The Punisher and Daredevil, and Affleck talked about the difference between the two eras of Marvel and what may be the biggest achievement of the MCU, a “clarity of tone.” Affleck said…

As Ben Affleck points out, the thing that really separated superhero movies before the MCU and after wasn’t the continuity of storyline, but the continuity of tone. Because every superhero movie was made in a vacuum, the characters, visuals and everything else often didn’t feel like they belonged in the same universe.

The idea of putting Ben Affleck’s Daredevil together with, say, Thomas Jane’s or Ray Stevenson's Punisher, would never have worked even if licensing rights had allowed for such a thing. That's because the world’s the characters inhabit, and the tone of their stories, were so wildly different that they wouldn’t have felt like they belonged together.

Of course, that consistency of tone has its downsides too. A lot of the MCU movies feel too similar to each other, with many critics and fans maybe not as excited about each installment as they once were, perhaps in part because the movies don’t feel different enough.

Even the MCU isn’t perfect in that regard. There’s a reason that Deadpool and Daredevil haven’t teamed up with the Avengers yet, and based on the current cast of Avengers: Doomsday, it won’t be happening for the foreseeable future. Even within the franchise, some characters don’t feel like they fit together quite perfectly.

It's really too bad that Ben Affleck never found success in the superhero world, because the guy clearly understands it all in a way that not everybody does, and he certainly wanted to make it work. Perhaps there's still a chance that he can find the right character and the right creative team to make it all work. For now, Affleck himself seems largely done with superhero movies, and I'm not sure anybody can blame him.

Following that massive Avengers announcement a few days ago, anticipation is high as the 2025 movie schedule will introduce The Fantastic Four: First Steps to the world, and that picture marks the start of Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It could also be the start of something that’ll literally Doom the MCU, which is on everyone’s minds after Avengers: Doomsday’s massive cast reveal.

That day put the potential for cracking wise on the table in all sorts of ways, and fans still haven't disappointed on that front. This leads to the latest front in that comedy battle, as people are now joking about star Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s past role in The Punisher - just as he’s about to debut as Ben “The Thing” Grimm in an upcoming Marvel movie.

The Marvel Double Dip Strikes Again With Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Avengers Casting

This isn’t the first time Moss-Bachrach’s repeat casting has been brought up in service of invoking “The Marvel Double Dip,” as he was in The Punisher back in the Netflix days and will soon be in Fantastic Four as a totally different character.

Just as you’d expect with Daredevil: Born Again reopening that corner of the street-level MCU, social media user “@driftyfilm” dropped this piece of comedy onto the internet about Doomsday:

You really know you’ve made it when a role in a Netflix series eight years ago is casually thrown around for a laugh. Though to be fair, if Ebon Moss-Bachrach has “made it” for anything, it’s probably his intense performances in FX’s The Bear and Disney+’s Andor.

Keep those roles in mind for the next part of the ride, though, as one of those two had to be mentioned when joking in the face of Doomsday.

Further Comments On Avengers: Doomsday’s Casting Seem To Have One Thing In Mind

For the most part, fellow digital comedians stuck to the obvious pun that comes with what we know about The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But I had to save the best for last, as it opens up to the potential for a hilarious image in Marvel’s near future that all Hulu subscription holders would find to be a godsend.

With that in mind, here’s a sampling of the internet being the internet, but in a really funny way:

• “Here’s the thing…” - @mmarti2001
• “Can’t wait to see Punisher’s tech nerd fight the Thing!” - @Rick_Zou
• “The thing about this is that…” - @mgeorge9492
• “He's playing the cousin from the Bear in this one. Sorry to kill the excitement over here... :(“ - @thegameoverture

There are probably countless further references to Mr. Moss-Bachrach’s tragic rock hero, so if you want to see the full field, it’s out there. However, I have to respectfully tip my chef’s knife to that final contributor, who said that Richie from The Bear would be the alternate character to join the ranks of Avengers: Doomsday.

For some reason, a really pissed off Cousin Richie squaring up with Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom sounds just as intense as when Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch walked up and down Josh Brolin’s Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. There’d naturally be a lot of witty snipes on both ends, which would escalate into massive PG-13 violence - and perhaps that golden singular usage of the F-bomb could be slipped in since Marvel’s cool with that now.

That’s not a likely scenario, and neither is the actor reprising his Punisher role. However, in that dream situation, you can see why people love to joke about Ebon Moss-Bachrach possibly popping up multiple times in the same universe.

Coming back to reality, we know very well that Ben Grimm’s gonna do his Thing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps when it opens on July 25th, with his MCU hero ready to rock and ruin for Avengers: Doomsday’s opening on May 1, 2026.

Mild spoilers below for Daredeil: Born Again’s latest episode for anyone who hasn’t yet streamed it with a Disney+ subscription.

The world finally seems settled again, or perhaps the complete opposite, now that Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle is officially back in our lives thanks to Daredevil: Born Again. The fan-favorite vigilante made his long-awaited return to the 2025 TV schedule, which marks his first full-on MCU appearance. Having turned down an earlier request to return ahead of the Disney+ series’ creative restructuring, Bernthal welcomed the chance to bring his own personal touch to the character, and explained a key difference between Frank and Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock.

From the outside, Frank and Matt are obviously very different characters, despite sharing quite a few similarities by way of costume-enhanced vengeance. And even though their core goals can often align, Bernthal addressed how the two characters’ mindsets differ, even when they're aiming in the same direction. And even when one might not necessarily want to think like the other. Here's what he told EW:

For all that Charlie Cox's law-defending attorney can believe himself to be a fully balanced artiber of justice, I believe we all know that Matt is more than guilty of letting his frazzled emotions guide his actions. Especially when they're in response to something tragic, such as Foggy getting assassinated right in front of him. And it sounds like Frank low-key delights in being a dark inspiration for the golden boy.

But here's where Bernthal lays out the key difference between them, even when it seems like Matt has fully gone into Punisher mode. As he put it:

While Matt may eventually arrive at the decision to drop his stricter morals and go buck on those who stand against him, that decision is almost never going to happen in a split-second the way it would with Frank. With his religious and litigious foundations, he's largely unable to approach a problem without considering the ramifications for both his corporeal form and his soul.

On the flip side, Frank could very well raze an entire field just to kill a single mouse, and all without a single second of preplanning or look-ahead consideration. If the goal is to kill the mouse, Frank is going to get the job done, while Matt may have deeper reservations that hold him back.

What's more, as Bernthal puts it, Matt is fully aware of this distinction between them, and is bothered by it, while Frank has no issues with letting his instincts run things. And by "run things," I of course mean "shoot everyone's kneecaps and split someone's elbows in half." Frank doesn's fuck around with bendable joints.

Frank and Matt's somewhat parallel ideaologies came up during Daredevil: Born Again's fourth episode, "Sic Semper Systema," as the Man Without Fear interrogated his rival-turned-friend about the skull-marked bullet casing found near Ayala's body. And it was indeed a joy to see them share the screen again, even if they weren't immediately going to town on bad guys' faces.

One can only hope that Jon Bernthal & Co. find a way to bring Charlie Cox's hero into the fold for the upcoming Marvel Special Presentation for The Punisher that was announced in February. Not that any of these actors have much free time on their hands, as Born Again Season 2 is currently in production.

Over the past few years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been producing a ton of live-action TV content for those with a Disney+ subscription, helping to expand the franchise even more. But there was a time when Marvel's shows lived on Netflix, and some of those characters are returning thanks to Daredevil: Born Again. That includes Charlie Cox and Jon Bernthal, who recently joked about their respective injuries from their original run as Daredevil and Punisher respectively.

While Daredevil and The Punisher were both originally available with a Netflix subscription, Disney+ has since picked up those shows and continues to produce new ones. Some fans are hoping they appear in upcoming Marvel movies, but their reunion in Born Again is definitely thrilling. In a video circulating on Instagram, Bernthal confirmed he's broken his nose a number of times, including on The Punisher. As he put it:

Ouch. This type of injury shows how much Bernthal throws himself into fight scenes, which we've seen in his acclaimed performances in The Walking Dead and as Frank Castle in the MCU. Talk about comittment.

In this same interview, Charlie Cox was asked if he was ever responsible for any of Bernthal's nose breaks. After all, they came to blows a number of times throughout Daredevil. He said no, but revealed an injury he sustained thanks to his co-star. As Cox put it:

That's one serious misstep. Or in this case, miskick. Pulling off thrilling action sequences is not without its risks, and it sounds like both Charlie Cox and Jon Bernthal are no strangers to the occasional injury. And that history didn't stop either of them from returning in the cast of Daredevil: Born Again.

Towards the end of this interview, Cox made sure he had never accidentally injured Bernthal, saying:

These two clearly have great chemistry, which fans are eager to see leap to the screen in the new Daredevil series. For years fans have hoped that the characters from the Netflix shows would return to the MCU. And after some cameos by Charlie Cox in Spider-Man: No Way Home and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, he's finally able to take center stage in Born Again, which is just as violent as its predecessors.

New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again go up Tuesdays on Disney+ as part of the 2025 TV premiere list. Hopefully the two actors don't get injured from their time back in the MCU.

Movie lovers at the South by Southwest are getting a first look at plenty of highly anticipated projects coming to the 2025 movie calendar, and that includes the next project from Ben Affleck — The Accountant 2. The upcoming action movie is a sequel to the 2016 flick that again centers around Affleck’s autistic accountant Christian. Matt Damon showed up to support his BFF at the SXSW premiere in Texas, but what are audiences saying?

In addition to Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal co-stars as Christian’s estranged brother Braxton. Cynthia Addai-Robinson and J. K. Simmons reprise their roles from the first film as well, though the trailer confirms a big character death. Ranking the movie 8 out of 10, Ryan Scott of SlashFilm says The Accountant 2 is funnier than the first movie but not devoid of heart, and it makes Affleck’s character more three dimensional. In short, it improves on its predecessor in every way, Scott says, writing:

Nate Richard of Collider also gives the movie an 8 out of 10, praising the chemistry between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal and the action scenes that easily one-up anything from The Accountant. As for Affleck’s portrayal of a man on the autism spectrum, Richard notes that the sequel makes a concerted effort to represent neurodiversity without slipping into stereotypes. The critic says:

Lovia Gyarkye of THR agrees that the stars’ portrayal of the brothers is what makes The Accountant 2 so successful, and that especially fans of the first movie will be rooting for this fraternal pair. Gyarkye continues:

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com, however, was less impressed with the movie overall, giving it 2 out of 4 stars. Tallerico agrees that the exploration of Christian’s relationship with brother Brax is when The Accountant 2 is at its best, but Gavin O’Connor doesn’t put the same amount of effort into making us care about the rest of the plot. In the critic’s words:

Christian Zilko of IndieWire grades the movie a C+, writing that there’s no real reason for this sequel to exist nine years later, but it improves on the first by giving Jon Bernthal a bigger piece of the pie. The Accountant 2 offers more laughs and more heart, Zilko concludes, writing:

We’ve still got a while to wait before The Accountant 2 hits theaters on Friday, April 25, so if you want to catch up on what you missed the first time around, The Accountant can be streamed with either a Max subscription or Amazon Prime Video subscription.

And, if you did enjoy these characters in the first movie, critics’ first reactions seem to indicate you’ll be happy with the sequel. While we wait for its release date, be sure to check out Ben Affleck’s other upcoming projects.

Daredevil and The Punisher sure do keep each other on their toes, and when it comes to Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, it sounds like the actors who play them- Charlie Cox and Jon Bernthal, respectively- do that too. Ahead of the upcoming Marvel show’s premiere on March 4, the Matt Murdock actor proved that by explaining how his co-star was rewriting lines right before they started shooting. I have to say, this sounds brilliant and stressful.

We’ve known for a while now that Jon Bernthal would return as The Punisher in Born Again. However, the impact he’ll have on the story is still unknown. While those specifics remain hidden, we do know the actor behind Frank Castle had quite the impact on set, as Cox recalled a phone call he received from him about re-working a scene during a press conference that our sister site, GamesRadar, attended:

Cox explained that he was thrilled to have Bernthal in the Born Again cast and that he loves filming with him. So, witnessing the actor improvising and coming up with his lines and actions sounds like loads of fun. However, as this story went on, it also seemed kind of stressful as the Daredevil star recalled what happened when his co-star showed up on set after that call:

Considering Cox and Bernthal have been playing Daredevil and The Punisher for a long time, I’d trust them to know what’s right for the characters. Therefore, working on scenes in a loose way like this sounds fun. However, there’s also part of me that would panic a smidge if I didn’t know what my co-star was about to do.

Clearly, though, Charlie Cox was loving his work with The Bear actor, as he spoke very highly of him and his moments in the series that’s about to premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. While the Matt Murdock actor didn’t give away specifics, he did tease how iconic Bernthal’s arc is this season, saying:

Being a fan of the OG Netflix shows and the chemistry between Cox and Bernthal’s characters, this comment excites me to no end. However, also knowing that they were improvising and working well together on set thrills me even more, because it probably means Frank and Matt’s reunion will be meaningful, action-packed and, as the Daredevil actor said, “potentially iconic.”

Well, it sounds like we’re in for a wild ride when it comes to Matt and Frank’s story this season. Plus, overall, Daredevil: Born Again has received great reactions from fans who saw it early, meaning we better have those Disney+ subscriptions ready. I don’t think we’re going to want to miss anything in this highly anticipated return to Hell’s Kitchen.

Marvel fans will soon witness an event that's been rumored, discussed, clamored for, argued about, and all the other verbs. We're talking Daredevil: Born Again making its long-awaited debut on the 2025 TV schedule, which also marks the small-screen returns of fan-favorite characters like Karen Page, Foggy Nelson, and Frank motherfluffing Castle! And guess what? It won't be the last we see of Jon Bernthal's Punisher.

Seemingly taking a note from my entrails-emblazoned dream journal, Marvel has already confirmed a future adventure for Castle's bone-shattering vigilante, with Bernthal locked in to reprise the role once more. It won't be a full-on extension of Netflix's Punisher series, but it's literally the next best thing in my eyes, and might even be a smarter move than an outright limited series.

The Punisher Will Return For A Marvel Special Presentation

As explained by Marvel's increasingly more vocal Head of Television, Brad Winderbaum, the impetus for continuing The Punisher's small-screen impact was formed as Daredevil: Born Again was in production and it became clear that this shouldn't be the end for the widower. And it sounds like it'll be just as explosive as fans are hoping for. Here's how the exec put it to EW:

I mean, they might as well just call the Special Presentation "Shotguns and Pathos," amirite? I can't imagine whatever the final title is will be any more impressive and on the nose.

Jon Bernthal Is Co-Writing The Punisher Special

Not only is theWalking Dead vet going back in black in front of the camera, but he's also as invested as can be behind the scenes. It was confirmed that Bernthal will be handling co-writing duties for The Punisher's one-off storyline, which will assumedly add that much more organic badassery to what viewers will eventually watch.

Brad Winderbaum lauded the We Own This City star for his signature protrayal and for what he brings to the role of Frank Castle, saying:

Hopefully whatever this Special Presentation is will connect enough dots to get Frank Castle invested enough in the larger multiversal story that we'll get to see him blasting holes in people's faces for the Russo brothers' upcoming Marvel movies like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. I don't expect it, but would welcome it all the same.

A Punisher One-Off Is The Perfect Way To Deliver Action Without Overdoing It

I was one of those Punisher fans who lauded and defended the Netflix series for its brutal strengths, though I could definitely also understand why those two seasons garnered complaints from viewers. And I think the biggest setback for both that and Daredevil itself was having too many episodes.

Sure, nobody wants to get a series order and a big budget from a major TV studio and think about the best way to make fewer episodes. But for a character like Frank Castle who pops as hard as can be when he's on the screen, delivering a constricted and condensed story seems like a far better way to keep fans gleeful without stretching everyone's attention spans. Plus, we won't have to wait nearly as long to see it!

It's unclear at the moment exactly when Punisher's post-Daredevil return will go down, or when it will go into production, but you can bet our eyeballs will be popping out of our skull emblems while awaiting more information.

As much as I adore the magical MCU storytelling of Agatha All Along, or the space-faring action of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, I’m exceedingly excited for the street-level “realism” of Daredevil: Born Again when it arrives to bludgeon the eyeball areas of everyone with Disney+ subscriptions. And it’s indeed such willingness to bludgeon and kneecap and gouge that makes the Man Without Fear’s return to streaming so glorious.

Daredevil’s three seasons on Netflix, combined with the two Punisher seasons, resulted in more wildly violent, bone-snapping, and blood-soaked scenes than the entirety of the MCU, more or less. Now Charlie Cox & Co. are officially bringing those dark and brutal vibes into Phase Five, and showrunner Dario Scardapane has boasted about the upcoming Marvel TV series in a most promising way that reflects on his past as a writer/producer on Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher. As he put it to Empire:

To be sure, neither Daredevil nor The Punisher (nor any of the Defenders-related titles) were on par with Damien Leone's Terrifier 3 when it came to gallons of gore gushing from one orifice or another at any given moment. But Kingpin and Frank Castle killed off people in ways that hearkened back to the heyday of '80s and early '90s action movies, where no one's elbows were safe from being snapped over others' shoulders.

True to Scardapone's claims, the first official trailer for Daredevil: Born Again was a masterclass in balance between calm — Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock having a public, sunlit chat with Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk — and ferocious — a dude being thrown into the floor so awkwardly that his neck breaks.

But one thing seemingly missing from the aforementioned trailer seen below is a moment where we see Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle in full berserker mode. I can understand why something like that would be held back from audiences for as long as possible, considering this technically isn't his show. But I really, really, really hope that Frank is at the direct center of the "absolutely batshit" scene that the showrunner mentioned.

Not that I'd have any big problems if that hyper-violent moment stemmed from the live-action debut of Marvel villain Muse, who looks as if he'll unleash a world of trauma on New York City that's mutually exclusive from whatever ills Wilson Fisk is putting into place as a city official. I mean, I fully expect a few Kingpin moments where he puts someone's head through a pasta roller, but will he end up being the first season's most brutal character?

My money remains on Frank Castle and his bushy beard.

Daredevil: Born Again will unpack some of those violent tendencies when it premieres on Disney+ on March 4.

While it’s true that everyone is perfectly free to have their own opinions, others are free to point out just how wildly offbase those opinions might be. So it went after someone took to Reddit with an ostensibly innocent question asking others to list actors known for playing the same kinds of roles throughout their careers, and made the mistake of making the example a pic of Jon Bernthal, the past-and-future Punisher actor who’ll return to the role amidst the 2025 TV schedule.

It was, shall we say, a real boneheaded move. (Punisher skull pun intended.) Because not only did commenters quickly come to Bernthal’s defense with stacked-high piles of receipts from across his career, but they were also quick to call out the inquiring party for not knowing enough to be asking such a question. Bernthal fans don’t have time for this kind of short-sighted nonsense.

Here’s a small smattering of responses to the Reddit post that were mainly invested in pointing out how terrible the decision was to use a pic of the Walking Dead vet.

• OP used perhaps the worst example for this question. Bernthal has a ton of range. - @Exotic_Adeptness4190
• I think the people that say Bernthal plays only one type of character haven't actually watched a whole lot of his work. - @dqfilm19
• You can tell op saw him in like 2 things and decided he only plays one character. - @sparklingdinoturd
• This guy isn’t 1 dimensional anymore. He’s actually never been a terrible actor - @Constant-Refuse-74
• Yeah idk what OP is talking about Bernthal is one of the better character actors. He does typically play a tough guy aggressive asshole but he plays each one with nuance and an approach to character work that’s different. - @CopeHarders

While some commenters, such as the bottom one noted above, conceded that Hollywood producers and casting directors have certainly leaned into typecasting Jon Bernthal at times by bringing him in to portray a general kind of character, be it a hyper-masculine soldier or a seemingly friendly villain.

But the performances are where the differences happen, and seemingly all of the hundreds of comments made regarding Bernthal were completely in his favor, safe for the occasional reply from someone noting their aim to catch up with one project or another. Still on the positive side.

And when it came to examples of Bernthal's range, there was no end to the variety of choices, and most of the film and series mentioned were namechecked several times by multiple people. From David Ayer's Fury to James Mangold's Ford v Ferrari to HBO's We Own This City and Netflix's The Punisher, here are just some examples of the high praise the actor earned.

• In Fury he made me feel so uncomfortable whenever he was in a scene, such great acting to elicit that kind of response. - @s-lowts
• jon bernthal in Ford v Ferrari was surprisingly good and imho a different character than usual. In the pacific he is also quite different casted, yeah, big guy and stuff. It wasn't until The Walking Dead that this type casting came into play. - @truncateBob
• He also plays a wildly different character in The Bear and an incredibly different character in Sicario. - @cadegs
• He was also so so good in We Own This City. He absolutely nailed the whole Baltimore accent/vibe. Super underrated actor - @bigjarbowski
• He was awesome as The Punisher, and the way he plays his character in The Unforgivable opposite Sandra Bullock was a nice change of pace from being this overbearing hardass he's usually portrayed as. His podcast is also really great as well. He's definitely underrated. - @Muhfuggajones
• His junky drug dealer character in Wolf of Wall Street was not like any other character he has done. - @odinsbois
• He made the movie Wind River, and he was barely in it - @ProgrammerAshamed144

The Bear definitely came up multiple times in the comments as an example of a role unlike most in Bernthal's career, not just for the fact that it's one of the few "comedies" he's appeared in, at least according to Emmy genre placement. But it was just the icing on the "terrible example" cake alongside all the other proof of his talents.

While The Bear is the only project Jon Bernthal has on the 2024 TV schedule, he'll return to his Frank Castle persona for Daredevil: Born Again in 2025, so stay tuned for more on that one.