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“‘One Last Kill’ Tops Disney+, Secures Bernthal for Spider-Man”

5/15/2026

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Summary

Punisher Confronts

Marvel Studios released the Disney+ special “The Punisher: One Last Kill” on May 12, 2026.
Co-written by Reinaldo Marcus Green (director), the film has Frank Castle (actor Jon Bernthal) confronting crime lord Ma Gnucci before resuming vigilantism.
The special topped Disney+ in the United States and over thirty countries, earned a high Rotten Tomatoes score, and secured Bernthal for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

Summary

Bernthal Burns

Marvel posted a behind-the-scenes video on May 14 showing Jon Bernthal set his legs on fire for The Punisher: One Last Kill.
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green said the fire sequence marks a turning point for Frank Castle.
He added that crew had to pull Bernthal off the ledge during the stunt.
Supervising producer Eleena Khamedoost explained the team chose tangible effects to honor the comics rather than rely on digital tricks.

History

Historical Context

In 2008 Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight* proved that a $185 million, practically-stunted superhero film could earn over $1 billion worldwide, reshaping studios’ approach to realism. Warner Bros. and later Marvel Studios built on that blueprint, and the 2026 Disney+ special *The Punisher: One Last Kill* uses real fire effects, echoing Nolan’s legacy while raising production costs.

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Punisher Confronts

Marvel Studios released the Disney+ special “The Punisher: One Last Kill” on May 12, 2026.
Co-written by Reinaldo Marcus Green (director), the film has Frank Castle (actor Jon Bernthal) confronting crime lord Ma Gnucci before resuming vigilantism.
The special topped Disney+ in the United States and over thirty countries, earned a high Rotten Tomatoes score, and secured Bernthal for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

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