Marvel’s Answer To John Wick Is Clear, But The MCU Is Wasting Him On Disney+

by

Keanu Reeves’s popular action hero, John Wick, is taking a break after recent films like John Wick: Chapter 4 and the upcoming Ballerina. While Reeves will eventually return for a fifth John Wick movie, Marvel Studios already has a similar action star, though currently underutilized on Disney+. This Marvel character has the potential to be just as big a hit on the big screen.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe already has a character very much like Keanu Reeves’ John Wick: Jon Bernthal’s Punisher. Both are incredibly skilled fighters and sharpshooters driven by personal loss to take down criminals, acting as powerful, lone-wolf vigilantes without relying on superpowers.

Marvel Studios is planning a bigger role for Jon Bernthal within the more grounded side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They intend to feature him in the Daredevil: Born Again series, potentially in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and in a separate Disney+ special sometime in 2025 or 2026.

If viewers enjoy Castle’s fast-paced special, the studio is likely to create more shows focused on him. One possibility is bringing back The Punisher in a similar style to its previous run, but that could overcrowd the more grounded street-level stories on Disney+, especially since a Jessica Jones reboot is also planned.

The Punisher recently appeared in a significant role in Spider-Man 4, becoming the first hero from the Netflix Marvel series to make such a leap to the big screen after Charlie Cox’s brief appearance as Matt Murdock in No Way Home. If audiences respond positively to Frank Castle’s performance and his Disney+ series, a standalone Punisher movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe could definitely happen.

Why It’s Time for an MCU Punisher Movie

This character has appeared in several previous movies, including The Punisher (1989), The Punisher (2004), and Punisher: War Zone (2008). Each film featured a different actor in the role of Castle: Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Jane, and Ray Stevenson.

A potential Punisher movie from Marvel Studios would likely star Jon Bernthal and be a gritty, action-packed blockbuster similar to John Wick, potentially earning an R-rating. Following the huge success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which made over $1 billion, the studio might be more open to R-rated films, particularly since plans for Blade have been put on hold.

This gritty, action-focused movie about a killer could be made relatively cheaply – potentially for under $50 million, similar to the original John Wick. Most Marvel blockbusters cost much more – between $150 and $250 million – but a simpler story focused on street gangs could significantly reduce production costs.

DC Studios is starting to try out lower-cost films to encourage more creative ideas, like this year’s horror movie, Clayface, which only cost $40 million to make. By keeping budgets down, DC can still make a good profit even with characters that aren’t typically big money-makers.

The Punisher is a well-known character who is generating a lot of interest, especially with upcoming appearances planned for 2026. He has the potential to attract a wider audience beyond typical superhero fans, particularly those who enjoy action movies like John Wick.

Reinaldo Marcus Green, the director of shows like Top Boy and the film King Richard, is directing a special for Disney+ and might also direct a future movie. Alternatively, Chad Stahelski, known for the John Wick films, has worked with Marvel Studios before – he was a second-unit director on Captain America: Civil War – which could lead to him directing a Marvel Cinematic Universe project, perhaps even The Punisher.

Read More

2026-01-30 19:05