Frank Castle is back, and he's bringing a whole lot of pain. The Punisher: One Last Kill, the new Marvel one-shot streaming on Disney+, delivers a darker, more brutal chapter for Jon Bernthal's iconic anti-hero. Director Reinaldo Marcus Green recently sat down with Collider to unpack the making of this 44-minute special, revealing how Bernthal's deep connection to the character shaped the project from the very beginning.
“He’s lived with the character,” Green said of Bernthal, who co-wrote the script. “He had been working on this for a good long while.” The special marks the third of Marvel's Special Presentations, following the acclaimed Werewolf by Night, and serves as a standalone story that dives into Castle's haunted psyche. After a brief appearance in Daredevil: Born Again and a surprise cameo in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Frank is lured back into action by an unexpected foe, forcing him to confront his obsession with revenge.
Green, known for his work on King Richard, admitted he was initially hesitant to take on such a violent project. “Going from tennis balls to bullet wounds is a different thing,” he laughed. But Bernthal saw something in him. “For Jon to see something that I didn't even see in myself, I think, was important.” The director, who was a Punisher fan as a kid, re-immersed himself in the comics to capture the character's essence.
The one-shot format, Green explained, is a perfect way to test the waters for a potential larger Punisher project. “It's a toe-dip,” he said. “For people who are afraid to go on a long commitment, they can start with 50 minutes. It's a cinematic experience in a fun, digestible way, and hopefully leaves you wanting more.” He added that the special is a way for Marvel to gauge audience demand for the character, potentially leading to “something bigger and better in the future.”
Alongside Bernthal, the special brings back Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle and introduces Emmy winner Judith Light as the supervillain Ma Gnucci. Green teased that Light's version is “different than the comic, in a good way,” hinting at a fresh take on the classic antagonist. The entire project was shot in just 11 days, a testament to the team's efficiency and passion.
Green also shared updates on his other project, Southern Bastards, a pilot he recently wrapped for Hulu. With a cast including Kevin Bacon, Tim McGraw, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, the series is based on a graphic novel and is now in the hands of the streaming service. “I'm optimistic we'll have a future life there,” Green said.
As for what's next for the Punisher, Green remained tight-lipped. “We're not sure where the Punisher goes,” he admitted, though he hinted that the one-shot could pave the way for more. For now, fans can dive into One Last Kill and experience Frank Castle at his most raw and relentless.
