Disney+ has kicked off the new year with thrilling announcements about upcoming original content, including new installments from beloved franchises. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will be ecstatic to learn about Jon Bernthal’s highly anticipated return as The Punisher, alongside the creation of yet another exciting chapter from the popular Descendants series.
First up, the buzz around Jon Bernthal's return is building, especially with the news of The Punisher getting his own special presentation. Following his character’s MCU debut on the much-anticipated series Daredevil: Born Again, Bernthal is set to reprise his iconic role as Frank Castle. Scheduled to debut on Disney+ sometime in 2026, this special will explore darker themes unique to Castle’s character and is anticipated to add depth to the MCU’s street-level narratives.
Producer Brad Winderbaum shared insights about the project, stating, "It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion you want out of a Frank Castle story. It’s so exciting.” He praised Bernthal’s ability to bring nuance and authenticity to the role and highlighted his contribution as co-writer for the script. "Bernthal is a generational actor… he knows the character inside and out,” Winderbaum emphasized, expressing excitement for what’s to come. This project follows Bernthal's significant impact on fans, meaning they're eager to see how The Punisher will occupy his space within the expansive Marvel universe.
While specific plot details remain under wraps, set photos indicate Frank Castle might face the emergence of copycat vigilantes, adding layers of conflict and drama to the story. The Punisher Special Presentation will likely connect seamlessly with the ensuing narratives from Daredevil, which is set to premiere on March 4, 2025. It’s expected to be pivotal as viewers witness how these characters evolve and interact.
On another front, Disney Branded TV has announced the development of Descendants 5, extending the saga of teenage children of classic Disney villains. Production is slated to commence soon, with the film set to air on both Disney+ and the Disney Channel. Returning executive producers Suzanne Todd and Gary Marsh will oversee the rich world of Descendants, which has become notoriously popular among younger audiences.
With Kimmy Gatewood stepping onboard as co-producer and director, the creative team is also bolstered by Emilio Dosal, who is set to contribute choreography to the film, and Tamara Chestna, who is writing the script. This team will collaborate alongside Dan Frey and Ru Sommer, both of whom were instrumental in the previous film, Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024).
The new film is expected to creatively explore the consequences faced by the franchise’s protagonists, Red and Chloe, daughters of the Queen of Hearts and Cinderella respectively. Their adventures seem set to expand with the inclusion of new characters from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, promising to add fresh narrative threads to this beloved series.
Disney has enjoyed great success with the Descendants franchise, with The Rise of Red even breaking records as Disney+’s most-watched original live-action movie of 2024, amassing 33 million views within just 12 weeks. The previous Descendants films set benchmarks as the most-watched cable movies among younger demographics, solidifying the franchise's popularity over the years.
Both announcements tag-team excitement across generations, aiming to captivate fans with their unique characters and storylines. Disney+ is clearly positioning itself for continued growth with its original content offerings, showing strong commitments to beloved narratives and fostering fan anticipation. The upcoming releases promise to enrich the viewing experiences of audiences, combining nostalgia for older fans with fresh content for newer ones.
Stay tuned for more updates as the release dates approach, and don't miss out on following the latest news surrounding these promising Disney+ projects!