Vincent D’Onofrio explains why Frank Castle/the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) isn’t in Daredevil: Born Again season 2.
In season 1, D’Onofrio reprises his role of Wilson Fisk/Kingpin from the Marvel Netflix series, and Bernthal also returned as the Punisher. The show underwent several significant creative changes along the way, including whether to incorporate Frank. He ultimately appears in two episodes, including Daredevil: Born Again season 1’s finale, which features the Punisher taking on Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force and escaping from them in a post-credits scene.
In response to a fan on X who was upset that the Punisher won’t be in Daredevil: Born Again season 2, D’Onofrio explained that it was because Bernthal was busy starring in the Punisher’s Disney+ television special and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The Kingpin actor jokingly refers to Bernthal being in Brand New Day as the actor “hangin with that insect.” Check out D’Onofrio’s full response below:
If John wasn’t busy making his own hour long Punisher film and hangin with that insect we would have wanted him to join us in Season 2 for sure. Yet he had a wonderful opportunity to do the other projects and I for one can’t wait to see him in those.
The Punisher’s story following his escape from Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force is going to continue in the hour-long Disney+ special instead of in Daredevil: Born Again season 2. Filming wrapped in 2025 and it will be released on the streaming platform later in 2026. Meanwhile, the Punisher was featured in the first Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer. With the movie coming to theaters on July 31, 2026, Bernthal’s character will be seen multiple times this year despite his Born Again season 2 absence.
While D’Onofrio and countless MCU fans are excited to see more of the Punisher soon, there is still a chance of him returning to the Daredevil: Born Again cast. The series has been renewed for season 3 and production has already begun. With the Disney+ special and Spider-Man: Brand New Day already filmed, it may be more feasible for the character to be in season 3, although his return has not been confirmed as of this writing. How Frank’s story progresses in his two upcoming MCU projects will also impact whether he shares the screen with Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox) again.
Despite the Punisher being in both Daredevil: Born Again and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, both stories taking place in New York City, and season 2 and the film releasing in the same year, the two projects are not expected to be too connected and will instead be treated as their own stories. That being said, Fisk’s mayoral campaign director and political ally, Sheila Rivera (Zabryna Guevara), is seen handing the keys to the city to Spider-Man in the Brand New Day trailer, which seemingly hints at her fate.
Even though the Punisher isn’t in <em>Daredevil: Born Again</em> season 2, another familiar face from Marvel’s Netflix shows is making their Disney+ debut with Krysten Ritter coming back to play Jessica Jones. The new season is also going to feature Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) more than in season 1 and Franklin “Foggy” Nelson (Elden Henson) will be in flashbacks. It will also see the returns of Dex Poindexter/Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer), Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva), Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki M. James), Daniel Blake (Michael Gandolfini), BB Urich (Genneya Walton), Detective Cherry (Clark Johnson), Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan), and Jack Duquense/Swordsman (Tony Dalton). Matthew Lillard joins the cast as well as the powerful new character Mr. Charles.
Daredevil: Born Again debuts Tuesday, March 24 on Disney+.
