The Punisher: One Last Kill just dropped on May 12, and Marvel is apparently not done with Frank Castle. Industry insider Daniel Richtman has reported that a brand new, dedicated Punisher project is already in active development at Marvel Studios.
The format hasn’t been confirmed yet. It could be a full revival series, a theatrical film, or another Special Presentation in the same vein as One Last Kill. Whatever shape it takes, the momentum is real.
New Punisher Project Set To Continue Frank’s War Against Gnucci Family
But we do know some intriguing information about its plot. Sources suggest this project will pick up right where Castle left off and see him continue his war against the Gnucci crime family based on the storylines from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s landmark comic book arc ‘Welcome Back, Frank’.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise given that this storyline served as the main source material during the writing of One Last Kill. It was actually confirmed earlier by actor Jon Bernthal who co-wrote that movie.
Moreover, the new Punisher project would also take place shortly after the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At this time, Castle is expected to partner up with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to protect a mystery character played by actress Sadie Sink (from Netflix’s Stranger Things). She is a member of the Department of Damage Control. This will act as a direct continuation of Frank Castle’s story.
As far as Marvel’s plan for The Punisher is concerned, it definitely looks bigger than that. Just one day before the news about the upcoming Punisher project broke, reports surfaced suggesting that Marvel Television is currently seeking writers for the new Heroes for Hire series that would feature both Mike Colter’s Luke Cage and Finn Jones’ Iron Fist. The latter two characters are expected to make their return in the final season of Daredevil.
The street-level side of the MCU is now receiving a much-needed boost, and The Punisher appears to be an integral part of that plan.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the next major marker on the calendar for where Frank Castle’s story goes next.