Marvel released the first trailer for the TV special 'Punisher: One Last Kill,' starring Jon Bernthal.
The special is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on May 12, 2025.
The trailer features extreme violence, hallucinations, and the Punisher set on fire, indicating a dark, psychological story.
This release continues the integration of the Punisher into the official MCU following 'Daredevil: Born Again.'
📖 Full Retelling
Marvel Studios and Disney+ released the first official trailer for the upcoming television special 'Punisher: One Last Kill' on April 15, 2025, showcasing Jon Bernthal's brutal return as Frank Castle in a violent, standalone story set to premiere on the streaming platform on May 12, one week after the conclusion of 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2. The trailer's release is a strategic move to capitalize on the character's popularity within the Marvel Cinematic Universe's street-level narratives and to maintain momentum between major series releases.
The nearly two-minute preview is intensely graphic, establishing a tone of relentless vengeance. It opens with the Punisher, engulfed in flames, enduring a fiery ordeal that appears to trigger a series of traumatic hallucinations. These visions feature distorted voices and faces, suggesting a deep psychological torment driving his latest campaign. The footage then cuts rapidly between scenes of explosive gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and the Punisher employing his signature arsenal against a shadowy criminal network, promising a narrative focused on his brutal methodology and personal demons.
This special marks a significant expansion of the character's presence following his acclaimed debut in the Netflix 'Daredevil' series and his recent integration into the official MCU timeline via 'Daredevil: Born Again.' By releasing a standalone special rather than a full series, Marvel is testing a new format for delivering character-focused stories. The project is produced by Marvel Studios in association with ABC Signature, with key creatives from the 'Born Again' production team likely involved, ensuring tonal consistency with the darker, more mature corner of the universe inhabited by characters like Daredevil and Echo.
The violent content of the trailer immediately sparked discussions among fans and commentators regarding the MCU's evolving content boundaries on Disney+. 'Punisher: One Last Kill' appears to embrace the R-rated sensibility previously established in projects like 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and 'Echo,' signaling a continued commitment to tailored content ratings for different franchises. Its placement right after the 'Daredevil' finale suggests a tightly interconnected storyline, potentially setting up future conflicts or character developments for the upcoming 'Daredevil' Season 3 or other street-level projects.
Jonathan Edward Bernthal (; born September 20, 1976) is an American actor. He came to prominence for portraying Shane Walsh on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2010–2012; 2018), where he was a starring cast member in the first two seasons. Bernthal achieved further recognition as Frank...
The Punisher (Francis G. "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru.
A television special (often TV special, or rarely television spectacular) is a standalone television show that may also temporarily interrupt episodic programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Some specials provide a full range of entertainment and informational value available via the t...
Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is wreaking havoc in the first trailer for his Marvel TV special, “Punisher: One Last Kill.” It will release on Disney+ on May 12, one week after the Season 2 finale of “Daredevil: Born Again.” The violent trailer shows Bernthal getting set on fire while seeing and hearing hallucinations of people talking […]
