HOLD 9PM ET TV review: 'The Punisher: One Last Kill' balances violence, sadness
Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green reunite for a self-contained special that pushes Frank Castle toward violence and despair.
- On Tuesday, Marvel Studios released 'The Punisher: One Last Kill' on Disney+, a 48-minute standalone special featuring Jon Bernthal returning as Frank Castle.
- Written by Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green, the special explores Castle's existential crisis as an episodic extension rather than a direct sequel to 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2.
- Reviews praise the 'brutal' action sequences, though some fans questioned the short runtime. The story follows Castle as he confronts Ma Gnucci, a crime family matriarch, in New York.
- Although Green stated he and Bernthal 'would love' to develop a Punisher film, Marvel has not confirmed plans. Bernthal remains active in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Frank Castle will play a supporting role in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' which hits theaters worldwide on July 31. This ensures the character remains active in upcoming MCU phases.
42 Articles
42 Articles
How The Punisher: One Last Kill's Bloody Ending Sets the Stage for Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Warning: This article contains full spoilers for The Punisher: One Last Kill and Daredevil: Born Again Season 2!2026 is a big year for Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle in the MCU. The character may have sat out the events of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, but he’s back in the spotlight in the new short film The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+. And Frank will stay active in the MCU as he plays a supporting role in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand Ne…
The Punisher exposes a major flaw in Marvel's streaming strategy
Ahead of his big screen debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the Punisher has returned in a Marvel Special Presentation. More than anything Marvel Studios has done before, Punisher: One Last Kill is a straight-up roller coaster ride of violence and action, bookended by moments of touching insight into the painful, tortured life of Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal).
'The Punisher: One Last Kill' Review: Bold For All The Wrong Reasons
Where was Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) for the entirety of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2? That’s a question that inevitably kept popping up as the Punisher’s absence throughout Wilson Fisk’s war against vigilantes became more glaring. Shouldn’t one of New York’s most infamous vigilantes be number one on the Anti-Vigilante Task Force’s list? Especially after he brutally murdered a bunch of them for wearing his insignia at the end of Season 1? But…
‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’ Review: Jon Bernthal’s Violent Return Plays More Like Origin Story Recap
The Punisher, from inception, has been a character rooted in revenge. But who is Frank Castle without that? Who does the character become when his mission is complete and all that’s left are the ghosts? “The Punisher: One Last Kill” sets out to answer that question, leaving as quickly as it arrives with a tight 48-minute runtime (about 10 minutes of which are credits). Of course, Castle has always been used sparingly outside of his own two-seaso…
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