Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle has spent years building one of the most intimidating identities in Marvel’s street-level corner of the MCU.
Now, after multiple appearances as the violent vigilante, Disney and Marvel have made a noticeable change to the character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).
It doesn’t involve replacing Bernthal or completely changing Frank’s methods. Instead, the movie takes away something much simpler: his name.
Throughout the entire movie, Frank Castle is never actually called the Punisher.
Disney Moves Frank Castle Away From the Punisher
As first pointed out by The Direct, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) consistently refers to Bernthal’s character as Frank.
Even Peter Parker avoids calling him the Punisher.
That becomes particularly noticeable because Marvel previously put plenty of weight behind Frank’s vigilante identity. His appearances in Daredevil: Born Again and Punisher: One Last Kill continued building the reputation surrounding the Punisher name.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) goes in another direction.
Frank still uses violent methods, and Spider-Man spends much of their time together trying to stop him from going too far. However, the movie increasingly treats Frank as an antihero rather than the feared killer he once was.
His reputation throughout New York has apparently changed as well.
Frank Castle Has a New Place in the MCU
Peter and Frank develop an unusual partnership throughout the movie.
Both want to protect New York, but they have drastically different approaches. Peter refuses to cross certain lines, while Frank remains willing to kill when he believes the situation calls for it.
That difference becomes especially important when they pursue Jean Grey.
Peter eventually realizes Jean isn’t simply evil and discovers that she wants revenge for her sister’s death. Frank doesn’t receive that information before firing at her while she holds part of New York hostage.
Peter jumps in front of the bullet.
Frank immediately rushes Spider-Man to the hospital, where Peter receives treatment. What happens there shows how much Frank’s standing in the MCU has changed.
Despite his violent history, hospital workers and law enforcement allow him to remain with Peter. They recognize that he is there to help rather than cause more damage.
That’s a significant departure from the Frank Castle Marvel fans previously knew.
What Comes Next for the Punisher?
The change doesn’t necessarily mean Marvel has permanently abandoned the Punisher identity.
Frank remains the same brutal vigilante in many ways. The difference is that Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) focuses on the person behind that reputation rather than repeatedly reinforcing his codename.
Marvel hasn’t confirmed where Bernthal will appear next. There currently isn’t a follow-up to Punisher: One Last Kill in development, though another season of Daredevil: Born Again is coming.
A future Spider-Man reunion is another possibility after the relationship established here.
Whatever comes next, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) has already changed the way the MCU presents Frank Castle.
After multiple appearances centered around the Punisher, Disney and Marvel have stripped away the name entirely. For now, the MCU doesn’t need New York to see him as the Punisher.
It simply wants audiences to see Frank Castle.
