A new set video from The Punisher Special Presentation has surfaced, offering a glimpse into Marvel’s gritty upcoming Disney+ release. Shared on X by @_DaredevilShots on August 4, 2025, the footage shows Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in a brutal hand-to-hand fight. This time, Castle is wielding a baseball bat with deadly precision. The scene unfolds near a row of yellow school buses, with Castle wearing an olive green sweatshirt and drenched in the chaos of battle. This brutal display hints that The Punisher will return with the same unrelenting fury that fans have come to expect.
The Punisher Returns With Grit and Vengeance
The leaked footage doesn’t just stop at melee combat. Another scene shows Castle opening fire from a vehicle. He then storms into Ma Gnucci’s restaurant—an iconic nod to the Welcome Back, Frank comic arc by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. This signals that the special is leaning heavily into comic-accurate violence and storytelling.
Set photos also confirm Ma Gnucci’s involvement, although her actress remains unknown. Interestingly, this version of Ma appears in a wheelchair. She has all her limbs intact, which deviates from her more grotesque comic counterpart.
Behind the scenes of ‘The Punisher’
Post Daredevil: Born Again Timeline Confirmed
Notably, the events of The Punisher Special take place shortly after Frank Castle escapes captivity from Mayor Wilson Fisk. This storyline is rooted in Daredevil: Born Again. Meanwhile, although the Disney+ series is slated to return in March 2026, it remains unclear whether Castle will make an appearance.
For now, however, the story continues to focus on his relentless war against the Anti-Vigilante Task Force. In fact, this ongoing conflict serves as a key narrative thread, co-written by Jon Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Bernthal Promises a Darker, Unfiltered Take on The Punisher
In a recent interview, Bernthal once again emphasized the darker tone of the project. Specifically, he stated:
“It’s going to be dark; Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness… It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.”
Clearly, this quote sets the tone for what viewers can expect. Specifically, it hints at a raw, emotionally charged continuation of Castle’s bloody campaign for justice. Furthermore, with Reinaldo Marcus Green directing and co-writing, the creative team seems fully committed to portraying the psychological and physical toll that defines Frank Castle’s mission.
The Punisher’s Expanding Role in the MCU
While The Punisher Special Presentation is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2026, fans won’t have to wait too long for more of Bernthal’s Castle. He is also confirmed to appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, scheduled for release on July 31, 2026.
This crossover could further solidify Castle’s presence in the MCU as a key figure in its street-level stories.
Whether he’s smashing skulls with a bat or confronting mob bosses, one thing is clear—The Punisher is back, and he’s not holding back. With its grounded action, dark tone, and deep comic roots, this Special Presentation is shaping up to be one of Marvel’s boldest moves yet.
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