Marvel StudiosJon Bernthal’s Punisher will make his big-screen Marvel debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and he’s bringing something fans have wanted to see again for years.
Bernthal first appeared as Frank Castle in Daredevil Season 2 on Netflix, later getting his own two-season show before reprising his role in Daredevil: Born Again.
Next year, he’ll cross paths with Spidey in Brand New Day. It’s still unclear whether he’ll be friend or foe (probably both), nor do we know how much he’ll be toned down. According to insiders, he’ll still be a “murderous psycho”, and it’s expected that he’ll have new weaponry to help deal with Spider-Man, as well as the Hulk.
Now, thanks to new snaps from the set in Glasgow, we know he’ll have something else, too.
The Punisher van is back in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Photos and footage of the Punisher’s van have been shared online from the Brand New Day set, with one clip showing Spider-Man on the bonnet, and another showing the van chasing after the armored vehicle that’s been seen in other videos.
It’s been eight years since the Punisher’s van last appeared in the MCU. Frank was seen driving it in Season 1 of the Netflix series, but it wasn’t used in Season 2, nor was it seen in Born Again.
If you haven’t read the comics, this may not seem very newsworthy. However, Battle Vans are a key part of the Punisher’s arsenal, both as a means of transportation and holding his vast weaponry to fight his enemies.
Don’t expect Frank to be wearing spandex and white gloves, but even though it’ll be PG-13, it’ll still feature a comic-accurate Punisher. Plus, the van looks slightly different; for example, instead of a skull on the grill, it’s painted on the bonnet.
“Seeing Spider-Man casually sitting on the Punisher van is surreal, imagine showing this to someone back in 2017,” one user tweeted. “Spider-Man chillin on top of the Punisher van (the same one from the Netflix show but more upgraded) is something I’d never thought I’d see in live action but here we are. I’m sorry y’all but a cinematic universe will always be special,” another wrote.
“My God, it’s so good they’re lifting things from the comics and the ’90s animated series. I hope Frank’s Battle Van is as high-tech as the animated series,” a third wrote.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits cinemas on July 31, 2026. Find out more about Sadie Sink’s mysterious role, and everything we know so far about Avengers: Doomsday.
