Jon Bernthal has returned as Frank Castle in *The Punisher: One Last Kill*, a new Marvel Special Presentation streaming on Disney+.
The release marks the return of the character after his absence from the second season of *Daredevil: Born Again*. By utilizing a shorter format, Marvel aims to provide a lean, action-focused narrative for fans of the vigilante without the commitment of a full series.
The special has a runtime of 45 minutes [1]. Bernthal served as both the lead actor and a co-writer for the project. This creative involvement coincides with a story that critics describe as a distillation of the character's previous iterations.
Critical reception to the special is divided. An IGN reviewer said the project "doesn't do anything particularly new with Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, but it strips down the Netflix series' formula into a lean, mean, and entertaining short story."
Other reviewers were less convinced by the narrative progression. A reviewer for Yahoo Entertainment said Bernthal has never been better as Frank Castle, but the special is still lacking. Similarly, a reviewer for The Seattle Times said the production "thrills and frustrates in equal measure" and noted that the special does not go anywhere.
Despite the mixed reviews regarding the plot, the production focuses heavily on the high-octane action sequences that defined the character's original Netflix series. The special functions as a bridge for the character's presence within the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“One Last Kill thrills and frustrates in equal measure.”
The release of this special presentation suggests that Marvel is experimenting with shorter, episodic formats to maintain character relevance between major series. By bringing back a fan-favorite like Frank Castle in a condensed runtime, the studio can test audience appetite for the character's return without the financial risk of a full-season order.
