Jon Bernthal’s Punisher has been on a roll since his return on Daredevil: Born Again. Not only will he cross paths with Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but he’ll also headline a Disney+ Special Presentation in 2026. Now newly leaked set photos hint as to who Frank Castle’s latest adversary will be.
According to @DaredevilShots on X, several New York City storefronts are undergoing a gritty makeover, featuring graffiti-tagged vehicles and windows. There’s even a vintage movie theater showing the Predator poster, causing speculation of a 1987-set flashback. But the real standout in these photos is the signage for Gnucci’s Restaurant, confirming the MCU arrival of mafia villainess Ma Gnucci.
Created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Isabella Carmela Magdalena “Ma” Gnucci made her Marvel Comics debut in the pages of The Punisher Vol. 5, Issue #4 in July 2000. Seeking revenge against Frank Castle for the deaths of her three sons, Gnucci gets the NYPD to form a “Punisher Task Force” to work alongside Russian assassins to hunt him down. Her demise was one of the most gruesome moments ever in any Punisher comic.
The actress set to play Ma Gnucci has yet to be announced. Though the Punisher Task Force angle was lightly retooled with the Kingpin’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force on Daredevil: Born Again. Given the mid-credits scene during the first-season finale, the task force may still pose a threat to Castle, and a potential alliance with Gnucci could be in the cards.
Reinaldo Marcuse Green (King Richard) will direct The Punisher special presentation, with Bernthal writing the script. The tone is rumored to be in line with Ennis and Dillon’s “Welcome Back, Frank” storyline from the comics. In March, Bernthal told The Hollywood Reporter that the special presentation “will not be Punisher-lite”.
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“I care very deeply about Frank. I’m really grateful that I’m getting the opportunity to tell the story that I think the fans deserve. We’re giving it our all and we’re trying to tell a Frank Castle story that we’re going to turn our back on the audience — it’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be light, and I think it’s the version that this character deserves and I’m just beyond honored and grateful that we get the opportunity.”
Are you excited to see Ma Gnucci enter the MCU in the upcoming Punisher special presentation? Let us know in the comments.
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