How ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Revived Interest in Frank Castle on Disney+

Jon Bernthal’s impressive tenure as Frank Castle has emerged as one of the most enduring success stories in Marvel’s history. Starting from a supporting role in Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’ in 2016 to leading his own two-season series, the skull-vested vigilante has built a loyal fanbase long before Disney brought the character to its streaming platform. That dedication has not waned, and it is currently reflected in the charts.

‘Marvel’s The Punisher‘ has made its way back into the top 10 TV shows on Disney+, a resurgence that coincides with the renewed interest in Frank Castle following the Disney+ Special Presentation, ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill.’ The original Netflix series, which aired from 2017 to 2019, has been available for streaming on Disney+ since the platform consolidated the Marvel Defenders Saga titles, and viewers are evidently catching up before diving into the character’s recent appearances.

The binge-back surge is easily understood when you consider everything Bernthal has accomplished with the role this year. ‘One Last Kill’ debuted two months prior to the series re-entering the top 10, showcasing Frank Castle’s struggle to move beyond vigilantism until crime lord Ma Gnucci, portrayed by Judith Light, pulls him back into the fray. The Special Presentation reached number one on Disney+ worldwide within just one day of its release on May 12, achieving a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh score of 75 percent, surpassing the original series’ critical reception, along with an 87 percent audience score.

This momentum directly influenced ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, where Bernthal made his MCU big-screen debut as the Punisher. The film opened to an impressive $360 million domestically, breaking the all-time opening weekend record previously held by ‘Avengers: Endgame’ since 2019. Such staggering numbers not only highlight Spider-Man’s popularity but also indicate a franchise in full swing, with Frank Castle’s inclusion being a significant part of the pre-release conversation.

Making the Punisher credible in a PG-13 Spider-Man film was a challenge Bernthal took seriously from the outset. In an interview with Variety, he shared his approach: “I was very clear with Destin: we have to believe that he would be able to walk off the set of ‘One Last Kill,’ and be that same guy walking onto the set of ‘Brand New Day,’ while also honoring that tonally it’s a much different project. I deeply appreciated that Amy Pascal, Destin and Tom Rothman all wanted the exact same thing.” Bernthal also expressed during an appearance on ‘Today’ that he was “enormously protective” of the character as Frank Castle transitioned from the TV-MA world of ‘The Punisher’ and ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ into Spider-Man’s comparatively brighter universe.

The original series holds an average critical score of 64 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated it a much warmer 79 percent on the Popcornmeter, reflecting the kind of devoted fan loyalty that often outlasts critical consensus. Created by Steve Lightfoot, the show pushed the MCU into darker thematic territory, drawing comparisons to the psychological depth of ‘Taxi Driver’ and the action style of ‘John Wick’. For many viewers coming in fresh off ‘One Last Kill’ or ‘Brand New Day’, revisiting the original series is less a nostalgia trip and more an essential context.

With Frank Castle’s theatrical debut now behind him and reports indicating that Marvel has already begun development on a new Punisher project, the character’s place in the MCU appears more secure than ever. Whether it manifests as a second Special Presentation or a full series revival, the streaming numbers make one thing clear: audiences are not finished with Frank Castle. What do you envision for the next chapter of the Punisher, and does seeing him back in the Disney+ top 10 inspire you to revisit the original series before whatever comes next?