One of many MCU’s greatest attracts proper now, at the least for me, is the growth of Jon Bernthal’s Frank Fortress, which has simply turn out to be the most effective live-action Punisher up to now. Seeing him in Daredevil: Born Once more was a howl-worthy delight, and I couldn’t be happier that Bernthal is getting his personal Marvel Particular Presentation offshoot to comply with up on the Born Once more finale’s post-credit scene. I used to be additionally pumped to listen to the large information that The Punisher is becoming a member of Spider-Man: Model New Day.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t very lengthy earlier than these initially jubilant emotions began to taper off, with barely confused curiosity filling out my headspace of their place. Is that this really the most effective use of Frank Fortress on the massive display? How are we getting a Punisher and Spidey team-up with out ever seeing Tom Holland’s webslinger battling Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin?
I might preserve asking speculative questions like that every one day, however will as an alternative deal with my two greatest considerations about this explicit crossover. Although an enormous quantity of fandom conversations have centered on Marvel doubtlessly watering down Frank Fortress’s R-rated language and hyper-violent conduct for its family-friendly Spider-Man sequel, that is not the largest supply of my perturbation.
The Punisher Wants Avenue-Degree Storytelling, Not Multiversal Chaos
Relating to origin tales, it would not get extra compact and hard-boiled than Frank Fortress’s avenging the deaths of his household, thus kicking off his second life arc as a fearless vigilante. And whereas the character definitely has a protracted comedian ebook historical past that is put him in practically each form of conceivable type of large-scale battle, Jon Bernthal’s live-action iteration has completely remained tethered to the “actual world,” because it have been.
Along with his army background and a scarcity of endurance for bullshittery, Frank is most in his aspect whereas haunting the shadowy streets of New York Metropolis. He is a whiz with any weapon put in his arms, however even when unarmed, his arms turn out to be weaponized themselves. As such, he ranks as extremely as Daredevil when it comes to wowing audiences with shockingly brutal close-up fights.
In the meantime, Spider-Man films are not recognized for function scenes on shadowy streets, and Peter Parker doesn’t have a penchant for punching enemies’ kneecaps out of the backs of their legs. They’re extra about coming-of-age feelings combined with heightened science-fiction plotting, culminating in Tom Holland’s multiversal team-up with Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parkers in No Method House. Not precisely the form of story The Punisher would thrive in.
Certain, we do not actually know what Model New Day can be about, and it might very properly make a whole about-face from the earlier movie’s expansive lore to hone in on a grittier and smaller-scale narrative. However has Marvel ever gone smaller over greater with follow-up tasks? Very not often, and I am unable to think about it’s going to go that route with a personality as beloved and field office-friendly as Spider-Man.
I Am Not Right here For Jon Bernthal’s Frank Being Quippy With Peter Parker
If Marvel’s Punisher was tag-teaming with Spider-Man for a five-minute journey, that will be the correct state of affairs during which I might be nice watching Jon Bernthal’s vengeful soldier waxing comedic reverse the quip-master Peter Parker. That is about all I might take earlier than questioning why Frank would nonetheless be hanging round with out placing Spider in his rear-view.
So I am undoubtedly involved about the opportunity of Frank having to endure way more on-screen time serving as a listening board for Peter’s self-aware humor. I imply, if it results in Spider-Man and Punisher dealing with off after Frank will get overly irritated, I am into it.
Basically, although, I simply dont’ need Jon Bernthal’s hardcore hero to get thrown right into a much less brutal setting only for the sake of the MCU giving him a “fish out of water” story. Relating to unfamiliar environments, I would somewhat see Frank taking up house aliens or collaborating in a bonkers preventing event, versus something that hinges closely on Marvel-branded humor. Simply because Bernthal was a hoot in The Accountant 2 (our evaluation), that does not imply Frank Fortress can be prepared to place up with Peter’s ding-dong jokes.
All that mentioned, would I wish to see Jacob Batalon’s Ned Leeds bouncing from Spider-Man films to being Frank’s sidekick in a brand new Punisher present? Hell sure, I might. Different characters are at all times free to hitch Frank’s world, even when I am much less open to him visiting others’. However it’s not gonna preserve me out of the theater seats when the film comes out.
Spider-Man: Model New Day is at present set to movie following Avengers: Doomsday, with a launch date already set on the 2026 film schedule for July 31, 2026.