Jon Bernthal plays Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Frank Castle is a vigilante whose war on organized crime began after the brutal murder of his family. His lethal methods contrast sharply with Spider-Man’s usual emphasis on protecting people without killing.
In Brand New Day, Castle and Peter Parker develop a big-brother/little-brother rivalry. The Punisher serves as a cautionary example for Peter, showing what can happen when a hero follows a solitary and increasingly violent path.
Bernthal had already portrayed Castle in Marvel television projects before returning for the film. The filmmakers worked to preserve the character’s established identity while fitting him into a more family-accessible superhero movie.