- Primary Subject: The Punisher: One Last Kill MCU timeline
- Key Update: Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane revealed when the special will take place.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 8, 2026
- Quick Answer: The Punisher: One Last Kill takes place during Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, bridging Frank Castle’s story from his original series to his upcoming movie debut.
As we're getting closer to the release of The Punisher: One Last Kill, fans have been wondering when it will take place in the MCU timeline.
The upcoming special presentation will bring back Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle in a solo action-packed adventure and a showcase for the fan-favorite character before he makes his big-screen debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day this summer.
Now, we finally have a clarification on when Frank Castle's new adventure will take place.
When is The Punisher: One Last Kill Taking Place in the MCU Timeline?
In a recent interview with Variety, Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane was asked about when The Punisher: One Last Kill will take place in the MCU timeline.
As most fans have already suspected, he confirmed that the special will take place during the events of the second season of Daredevil: Born Again.
"I don’t know a ton about what goes on in Brand New Day, and I know very well where we left him at the end of Punisher Season 2. I think this tells the story of what happened next after Punisher and before and during the events of [Born Again] Season 2," he said.
Scardapane also explained how The Punisher: One Last Kill led to a scheduling conflict that prevented Bernthal from appearing in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again.
"That came out of a lot of discussions with Jon over the years. I know that Jon had been talking to the people at Marvel and had a very specific idea in mind about what happened to Frank after the end of the Punisher series," he said.
"He came in so graciously, gratefully, and wonderfully in Season 2 for a pretty eye-popping pair of scenes. That got him, Reinaldo, and the producers talking about a Punisher special. So, yeah, not having Jon in Season 2 more reflects about the story he wanted to tell with the Punisher special."
However, it remains unknown whether Bernthal will be returning in the third season of Daredevil: Born Again, which is currently filming.
What to Expect in Punisher: One Last Kill
So far, the exact plot details regarding Punisher: One Last Kill are still under wraps. It is expected to address the aftermath of Frank Castle breaking out of Kingpin's dungeon in the first season finale of Daredevil: Born Again.
The synopsis follows: "Frank Castle tries to live a life without the need for revenge, only to be drawn into an unexpected conflict."
Jon Bernthal is starring as Frank Castle/The Punisher. Jason R. Moore is expected to reprise his role of Curtis Hoyle from Netflix's The Punisher. The character, Ma Gnucci, is also reportedly making an appearance.
The special will be released on Disney+ on May 12, one week after the second season finale of Daredevil: Born Again aired and two months before the character makes his MCU big-screen debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
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