- Primary Subject: The Punisher: One Last Kill
- Key Update: Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle returns in a standalone special that connects his Netflix history to the upcoming movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 13, 2026
- Quick Answer: Frank Castle returns to the MCU in a Special Presentation, resolving his family's murder and setting up his role in the 2026 Spider-Man film.
Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle has officially returned to the MCU through the Marvel Special Presentation The Punisher: One Last Kill.
Bridging the gap after his non-appearance in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, the TV special reveals where Frank has been and what he’s up to all along.
So, as part of the MCU continuity, here are the Marvel Easter eggs and Netflix callbacks in One Last Kill.
Warning: Major Spoilers Ahead. Read with Caution.
The Murder Board
Frank Castle still keeps his iconic murder board in The Punisher: One Last Kill. The board contains his targets and enemies, all pinned and mapped across his wall.
At the beginning of the TV special, Frank tears the board down, only to ultimately complete his mission by taking out everyone involved in the murder of his family.
The Appearance of Curtis Hoyle
Jason R. Moore once again appears as Curtis Hoyle, Frank’s close friend and fellow Marine, in The Punisher: One Last Kill.
Last seen in Netflix’s The Punisher series, Curtis previously tried to help Frank cope with his trauma, encouraging him to attend group therapy sessions after the death of his family.
The New York Cup
Frank is seen holding the classic blue-and-white Greek Anthora coffee cup, featuring the motto “We Are Happy to Serve You,” while drinking coffee in The Punisher: One Last Kill.
The cup has appeared in several MCU projects, including Thor: Ragnarok, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Hawkeye, Netflix’s Daredevil series, and more.
The Castle Family Grave
Frank visits the Castle family grave in The Punisher: One Last Kill, where his wife, son, and daughter are laid to rest.
The grave site was first introduced in Netflix’s Daredevil Season 2, marking Frank Castle’s debut and his early conflict with Matt Murdock’s Daredevil.
The One Batch, Two Batch Book
The “One Batch, Two Batch” phrase Frank says aloud at the end of The Punisher: One Last Kill is revealed to come from his daughter Lisa’s favorite book of the same title.
It is also the same book Frank was supposed to read to Lisa on the night his family was killed.
The Return of Maria Castle
Kelli Barrett also returns to reprise her role as Frank’s wife, Maria Castle, in The Punisher: One Last Kill, appearing throughout Frank’s flashbacks and nightmares.
Barrett previously portrayed Maria in Netflix’s Daredevil and The Punisher series.
The Central Park Carousel
The Central Park carousel also appears in Frank’s nightmare in The Punisher: One Last Kill.
Besides being the place where Frank’s family was murdered, it was also where he first defeated Billy Russo and brutally disfigured his face.
The incident ultimately led to the rise of the iconic Marvel villain Jigsaw in Netflix’s The Punisher Season 2.
The Infamous Nightmare Scene
After hallucinating and seeing his daughter Lisa, Frank begs her to return and stay with him in The Punisher: One Last Kill.
The emotional scene mirrors the highly memed sequence from Netflix’s The Punisher series.
The War Against the Gnucci Family
Ma Gnucci is revealed to be the main antagonist of The Punisher: One Last Kill after disclosing that Frank killed her husband, Benny, and her sons, Bobby, Eddie, and Carlo.
The Punisher’s war against the Gnucci family first began in the premiere of Netflix’s The Punisher series, when Frank gunned down Tony during a card game.
Karen Page’s Cameo
Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page also makes a cameo in The Punisher: One Last Kill as part of Frank’s hallucinations.
Serving as a callback to Frank and Karen’s history in Daredevil: Born Again and Netflix’s original Marvel shows, the scene shows how important Karen remains to Frank and how deeply connected their stories still are within the MCU.
Frank’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day Haircut
The ending of The Punisher: One Last Kill reveals Frank finding a new purpose beyond vengeance.
He is seen wearing his signature black outfit with the iconic white skull vest. This time, while he still keeps his beard, his hair is already cut short, resembling his look in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer.
As fans now know what happened to Frank after Daredevil: Born Again Season 1, his future is expected to be further explored in his first MCU movie, Brand New Day, which is set to be released on July 31, 2026. The Punisher: One Last Kill is available to stream on Disney+.
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