With nearly a month of filming complete on the solo project, a new set photo fromThe PunisherSpecial Presentationhas revealed the Marvel Cinematic Universe hero’s new suit. After debuting the character in Netflix’sDaredeviland leading his own show for two seasons, Bernthal made his proper MCU return in the recently airedDaredevil: Born Againseason 1.
AstheBorn Againseason 1 post-credits scenepointed to his eventual future in the franchise, it was revealed that Bernthal developed and pitched aPunisherSpecial presentation to Marvel, co-writing it with Reinaldo Marcus Green, who is directing. Filming began for the Special Presentation at the start of July ahead of Bernthal’s work inSpider-Man: Brand New Day.
New York-based photographerSteve Sandsrecently took to his Instagram story (viaCulture Crave)to share the best look yet at Jon Bernthal’s return forThe PunisherSpecial Presentation. The image reveals a clean look at the MCU hero’s upgraded look, including a re-grown beard, his hair trimmed down to a flat top, a newly-painted skull logo on his bulletproof vest, and various other padding and weapons attached. Check out a screenshot of the image atthe link here.
What Punisher’s New Suit Means For His Special Presentation
With whereDaredevil: Born Againleft the character, it was only a matter of time before Bernthal’s Frank Castle put together a new tactical ensemble, though thePunisherSpecial Presentation set photo does offer a few intriguing insights. For starters, the post-credits scene, in which Castle escaped from Kingpin’s Red Hook prison,saw the character still clean-shaven, with hardly any stubble even seen.
Given the set photo shows Bernthal with a full-grown beard, it seems likely thePunisherSpecial Presentation is taking place months afterBorn Againseason 1. This is further evidenced by a recent set video in which he was seen with the same appearance during a daytime fight sequence.
Another indication that thePunisherSpecial Presentation will take place some months in the MCU’s future ishis forthcoming role inSpider-Man: Brand New Day. Set photos from the Tom Holland sequel pointed to itbeing set closer to the latter half of 2027, whileDaredevil: Born Againseason 1 primarily took place in early 2027, suggesting the time jump.
The MCU first started taking place in a future timeline with Avengers: Endgame.
Regardless of its timeline, however, Punisher’s new suit in the Special Presentation indicates he is learning from every prior battle for how best to approach his next one. HisDaredevil: Born Againseason 1 appearance saw him primarily use a bulletproof vest, ammo belt and waist holsters, but with his having been taken down by the Anti-Vigilante Task Force, he’s likely aiming to be better prepared.
This will also come in handy for the threats he’s gearing up to face in his MCU future. In addition to the AVTF, who have taken totwisting Punisher’s ideology for their own means, the Special Presentation isset to have him face off against iconic comic book villain Ma Gnucci, andSpider-Man: Brand New Dayis rumored to pit him against an angry Hulk.
Our Take On Punisher’s New Suit In The Special Presentation
While it’s still a somewhat atypical tactical suit, Punisher’s new suit for the Special Presentation actually gives me a lot of excitement for how the character is continuing to grow. Bernthal and the costume designers are still finding great ways to keep his design grounded, even as they inch closer to his more iconic comic book suits.
However, it’s the fact that Bernthal’s suit continues to be one of the most practical of any MCU hero that makes his new look inThe PunisherSpecial Presentationall the more exciting. I certainly hopeSpider-Man: Brand New Daydoesn’t give him a tech-related suit in order to better level him with Hulk and Holland’s webslinger, but for now, at least they’re keeping him nice and grounded.
The Punisher
Cast
The Punisher stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher, who first appeared on Netflix’sDaredevil. Frank is a United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper veteran who is highly skilled in martial arts, stealth tactics, guerrilla warfare, and knows how to use a variety of weapons. The death of his wife and two children led him to take matters into his own hands, and he has been killing criminals indiscriminately ever since. Despite being beloved by fans,The Punisherwas canceled in early 2019. Thankfully for fans of Bernthal’s character, it was announced in 2023 that he would be joining the MCU by appearing inDaredevil: Born Again, starring Charlie Cox.
