Jon Bernthal is suiting up once again as the Punisher — and this time, he’s heading to the big screen alongside Tom Holland.

Bernthal has been officially added to the ensemble of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the newest installment in Sony and Marvel’s continually growing Spider-Verse. The film, spearheaded by Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton, is scheduled to begin filming in England this summer with a release planned for July 31, 2026.

The storyline remains a closely guarded secret, yet the rumor mill is buzzing. Speculations suggest a range of possibilities from street-level mob bosses to different versions of the Hulk, and perhaps even a few symbiotes. It is confirmed that Zendaya and Jacob Batalon will reprise their roles as MJ and Ned, though the extent of their roles is still unknown. Additionally, Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink will be joining the film in an as-yet undisclosed role.

The inclusion of Bernthal’s Punisher indicates a potentially darker tone in this installment of Peter Parker’s adventures. In the comic universe, Frank Castle is more about brute force and firepower rather than web-slinging and advanced technology, but the idea of him facing off against an enraged Hulk might deliver the thrilling chaos Marvel enthusiasts crave.

Bernthal first made his mark as the Punisher in Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix before leading his own standalone series for two seasons. More recently, he reprised the role for Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.

And Marvel has big plans for Bernthal moving forward. Not only will he return for Born Again Season 2, but he’s also co-writing and starring in a new Punisher feature for Disney+. According to reports, Bernthal had one condition for stepping back into Castle’s boots: the tone had to stay true to the character’s ultra-violent, R-rated roots. How that translates to a more family-friendly Spider-Man movie remains to be seen.

The connection between Bernthal and Holland actually goes back years. The pair were filming Pilgrimage together in 2017 while preparing to audition for their respective Marvel roles — and helped each other tape those fateful auditions.

Outside the MCU, Bernthal’s recent projects include The Accountant 2 opposite Ben Affleck for Amazon and The Amateur, a thriller starring Rami Malek for 20th Century Studios.

Bernthal is repped by CAA and Sloane Offer.