Spider-Man and Punisher Unite Against Hulk in New Film
Spider-Man's new adventure may not be as small-scale as initially described.
Jon Bernthal surprised everyone by attending Marvel Studios' Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, showcasing a new scene from Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The footage, which was not shared with the public and only shown to the audience in the hall, was also confirmed in Marvel's official panel summary.
The scene brings together Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Jon Bernthal's Punisher, and Mark Ruffalo's Hulk in the same conflict. Characters from three different corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe face off for the first time directly.
Hulk is the Target of Spider-Man and Punisher
The scene shown in Hall H involves Punisher joining the ongoing conflict between Spider-Man and Hulk.
Frank Castle fires his automatic weapon at Hulk's head repeatedly, but the bullets have no effect on the massive character. Spider-Man then manages to throw a web bomb at Hulk, temporarily suspending him in mid-air.
As Hulk breaks free from the webs and lunges at the duo, Spider-Man and Punisher are forced to work together. An explosive thrown by Punisher detonates near Hulk with Spider-Man's assistance, causing the character to be knocked back for a moment.
In the footage, Hulk retains the intelligent and controlled Professor Hulk appearance seen after Avengers: Endgame. However, his behavior suggests that he is beginning to lose his dominance over Bruce Banner's green side.
Spider-Man's main goal is not to defeat Hulk but to place a device on him that will help him regain control.
Punisher Faces Hulk for the First Time
The new scene is also a significant milestone for Frank Castle, portrayed by Jon Bernthal.
Introduced in the Daredevil series and later taking the lead in his own show, The Punisher, the character has primarily fought against crime syndicates, hired killers, and street-level threats until now.
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Punisher will appear in a feature film for the first time, directly facing an Avengers member thanks to the scene shown in Hall H.
Frank Castle, known for his weapons and military experience, clashing with a character as physically unstoppable as Hulk adds to the film's humor. The footage shows Spider-Man having to intervene as Punisher's weapons have no effect on Hulk.
Marvel's Three Different Worlds Unite on the Same Scene
Spider-Man: Brand New Day was previously introduced as a new beginning where Peter Parker would distance himself from his Avengers connections and high-tech resources.
At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, everyone had forgotten Peter Parker, and the young hero had started fighting alone on the streets of New York with a costume he made himself, abandoning Stark technology. The official summary of the film states that Peter has dedicated his entire life to being Spider-Man in a city where no one knows his name.
The addition of Punisher to the story strengthens the idea that the film will lean towards a harsher, street-level narrative.
However, the new scene shown in Hall H reveals that the production will not be limited to neighborhood crimes and the streets of New York. The film places three different Marvel scales into the same conflict:
The lonely and resource-limited Spider-Man, the Punisher who punishes criminals in his own way, and Hulk representing the destructive power at the Avengers level.
This combination does not mean that Brand New Day is abandoning its street-level story. On the contrary, Marvel may be bringing a large-scale threat into New York's smaller, more personal world. While this is an inference based on the shown scene, it is one of the strongest indicators of why the film needs both Punisher and Hulk.
Punisher Saves Spider-Man's Life
In the scene, Spider-Man asks Punisher why he is there. Frank Castle states that he has come to save Peter.
The dialogue between the two suggests that we will see two characters who dislike each other's methods but have to work together against the same threat, rather than a classic hero partnership in the film.
The difference between Spider-Man's no-kill principle and Punisher's lethal methods is likely to be one of the film's most significant conflicts. Even in the Hulk scene, Frank Castle resorts to direct firepower while Peter Parker is looking for a solution to stop and regain control.
At the end of the footage shown at Marvel's panel, it is conveyed that Punisher is trying to avoid fighting Hulk while Spider-Man is struggling to keep him in the conflict.
Why is Hulk Losing Control?
Although Mark Ruffalo's role in the film has been known for a long time, how Hulk will be involved in the story has not been explained.
The new footage confirms that Bruce Banner is experiencing control issues again, but the reason for this is still unknown. It has not been clarified whether Hulk has become aggressive of his own volition, is being controlled by a device, or is being influenced by another character in the film.
Peter's attempt to place some sort of blocking device on Hulk suggests that the issue may not be solely about a rage outburst. However, Marvel has not shared the context of the scene or at what point in the film the conflict occurs.
It is also still unclear whether the Hall H footage will be officially released online.
When Will Spider-Man: Brand New Day Be Released?
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Spider-Man: Brand New Day sees Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker. Alongside Jon Bernthal's Punisher and Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Sadie Sink are also part of the cast.
The film will hit theaters on July 31, 2026.
The scene shown by Marvel in Hall H indicates that Peter Parker will be left alone in his new era, but the challenges he faces will not diminish.
Spider-Man may no longer have Avengers technology. But there is still an Avenger in front of him.
