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It has been a rocky road for Marvel's Cinematic Universe in recent years, as the superhero studio has failed to find consistency ever since Avengers: Endgame. Still, 2025 has featured a number of hits such as Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts*, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, yet 2026 is set to be even bigger, and one divisive hero will be ever-present. Although 2025 wasn't Marvel's best year at the box office, the entertainment juggernaut had more cinematic hits than misses, while also producing some solid TV projects. One of the most talked-about shows was Daredevil: Born Again, as viewers were relieved to see connections to the iconic Netflix series alongside the return of some familiar faces. Watching the protagonist interact with the likes of Kingpin, Bullseye, Karen, and Foggy for the first time in six-and-a-half years was a dream come true for many, but it wasn't the only big reunion. Jon Bernthal's the Punisher also returned in Daredevil: Born Again, and fans will be seeing plenty more of him in 2026 based on Marvel's release slate. 2026 Will Be The Year Of The Punisher Whether you love or hate the Punisher, expect to see plenty of him in 2026. Frank Castle is often a polarizing comic book character, but there's no doubt 2015's Daredevil helped give him more mainstream appeal than ever, hence why the character got his own show. However, after season 2 concluded in January 2019, Jon Bernthal spent years away from the character until reprising the role over half a decade later in Daredevil: Born Again, and he's not done there. The Punisher will also officially appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will undoubtedly be one of the MCU's biggest projects in 2026. Additionally, he is set to get his own TV special and looks destined to be a significant part of Daredevil: Born Again season 2, based on where the story is going. These three productions will all be huge, and Frank will likely be crucial to all of them, suggesting the character will steal the spotlight next year. Alongside his Marvel commitments, Jon Bernthal will also appear in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and a TV miniseries titled His & Hers in 2026. There is also a slim chance he could appear in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2, which is also scheduled for 2026, and he may even cameo in Avengers: Doomsday, meaning the Punisher has a very bright year ahead of him. The Punisher’s Huge Presence Could Mark A New Era For Marvel Choosing to put the Punisher in so many upcoming Marvel projects could be ushering in a new era for the MCU. Despite having several big hits over the last few years, the cinematic universe has been suffering a bit of an identity crisis, as audiences have slowly become less interested and started caring less about the overarching story. Therefore, with some fans perhaps feeling like Marvel projects have become stale and predictable, utilizing Frank Castle offers the chance to create a new buzz around upcoming projects. Daredevil: Born Again brought back that gritty and violent feel that Marvel has been lacking for some time, suggesting there is scope to lean into this. Of course, there still needs to be more light-hearted projects to avoid changing too drastically, but the MCU could adapt some intense Punisher stories, which would provide more mature content while putting a focus back on street heroes. The fatigue of multiversal storylines and overly complicated plots means concentrating on more grounded conflicts could be the way forward for the time being. As a result, going for a more simplistic yet adult approach towards future projects would be sensible, making the Punisher's role in Spider-Man 4 an encouraging sign for this new era. Why The Punisher Is So Popular Despite The Character’s Controversy The Punisher is easily one of Marvel's most divisive characters, yet despite his controversial past, Frank Castle remains extremely popular. Many of Frank's comic book arcs have been dark, brutal, and polarizing, as stories like "Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe" rubbed some people the wrong way. Additionally, the Punisher's 2005 video game came under fire for its violence, resulting in the game having to make cuts to meet an 18 rating in the UK. The Punisher's controversial skull logo has also been linked to real-life crime and police brutality, making the vigilante a real headache for Marvel that could've easily been sidelined indefinitely. Instead, he remains incredibly popular, largely because of his complexity. Frank Castle isn't necessarily a good man, as he uses violence and murder to achieve justice, often citing his tragic past to rationalize his behavior. Still, he tends to only target those who deserve it and protects innocent people, making him the definition of an anti-hero. Putting him in stories with Daredevil and Spider-Man highlights how untraditional his methods are, which only makes these other figures come across as more heroic. However, seeing the Punisher deliver justice to Marvel's most despicable villains makes it hard not to root for him at times, even though he is guilty of going way too far. Jon Bernthal's modern portrayal also embodies all of Frank Castle's best traits, as he does come across as likable and sometimes even compassionate, yet he remains a cold-blooded killer who refuses to listen to reason, hence why so many people love the character, despite his divisive nature. After 2026, The Punisher Will Be One Of The MCU's Biggest Characters With Jon Bernthal's profile growing massively since first taking on the role as Frank Castle alongside the Punisher's involvement in Marvel's upcoming slate, there's no question this anti-hero will become one of the MCU's biggest characters. Even if Marvel's Cinematic Universe isn't as popular as it was a few years back, Spider-Man 4 will still be huge. Therefore, with the Punisher being involved, it will expose him to a larger audience, while his other projects will only make the character even more recognizable. Daredevil has followed a similar trajectory in recent years, becoming a mainstream name that most fans love, and although the Punisher is already popular, 2026 will make him a massive draw for the studio. The fact that Jon Bernthal seems committed to the role and is one of the most talented actors around today only makes Frank Castle's MCU future even brighter, and after seeing him in so many highly anticipated stories, the Punisher is bound to be a major player for Marvel going forward.
