SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Rumor Teases an Epic Showdown Between Punisher and Tombstone
The Marvel Cinematic Universe might be gearing up for one of its most intense crossovers yet. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is already shaping up to be a major event for fans, and a new rumor suggests it’ll give The Punisher fans exactly what they’ve been waiting for, a brutal face-off between Frank Castle and one of Spider-Man’s deadliest underworld villains.
According to scooper DanielRPK, Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle will come into “direct conflict” with the crime lord Tombstone. That’s an exciting development for fans who’ve been eager to see Bernthal’s Punisher back in the MCU.
Black Lightning alum Marvin Jones III is reportedly taking on the role of Lonnie Lincoln, better known as Tombstone. Jones previously voiced the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but this time he’ll be stepping into the live-action version.
Given the Punisher’s violent crusade against organized crime, it’s easy to see how Tombstone would end up on his hit list.
If this report is accurate, Tombstone probably won’t serve as Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s main villain. Instead, he’s likely to act as a supporting antagonist, possibly teaming up with Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan (Scorpion) or stirring up his own trouble in New York.
Whatever his role, it sounds like Castle will be hunting him down, with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker inevitably swinging into the chaos. Whether Punisher wants his help or not, Spider-Man isn’t one to sit back when New York’s in danger.
Tombstone’s appearance in Brand New Day marks the character’s first live-action debut, though fans may recognize an alternate version of him from Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. That version was much younger, showing how versatile this villain can be across the Spider-Verse.
As for Jon Bernthal, he’s been playing Frank Castle for nearly a decade, starting with Daredevil Season 2 before headlining The Punisher series. He recently returned to the role in Daredevil: Born Again and will appear again in the show’s second season and a Punisher TV special, both leading up to Brand New Day.
But Punisher isn’t the only hero set to appear in this movie. Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk has been confirmed, though Ruffalo himself has been coy about how involved he’ll be. Florence Pugh is rumored to return as Yelena Belova, and Charlie Cox may once again step into the red suit as Daredevil following his cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Meanwhile, Vincent D’Onofrio reportedly won’t reprise his role as Wilson Fisk, but the Kingpin’s presence will still loom large. As New York’s mayor, Fisk’s anti-vigilante policies are said to influence much of the film’s conflict.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how Bernthal’s Punisher fits into the PG-13 world of Spider-Man: Brand New Day when it swings into theaters on July 31, 2026.