Marvel fans expecting a full hour of Frank Castle may need to lower those expectations. A new report about The Punisher: One Last Kill suggests the upcoming Disney+ special could be much shorter than originally believed, and the rumored runtime is already creating debate online among MCU viewers eager for Jon Bernthal’s brutal return.
The Punisher: One Last Kill runtime rumored to be less than 45 minutes
Early listings from the Writers Guild of America had pointed toward a 60-minute runtime for Marvel’s upcoming Punisher Special Presentation. But fans on social media are now claiming the actual length may land closer to 44 minutes without credits, putting it more in line with previous Marvel special presentations on Disney+.
The update sparked mixed reactions online. One fan wrote, “So it’s not hour length like we thought.” Another joked, “Calling 44 minutes a special is like slapping XL on a medium shirt and hoping nobody notices.”
Others defended the runtime by comparing it to past Marvel specials. “The GOTG Holiday Special was like 39-40 mins. Werewolf by Night was about 45-48 mins without credits. So it fits into that special presentation format,” one viewer posted.
Even with the shorter runtime rumors, excitement around the project remains strong because Jon Bernthal is returning as Frank Castle. Bernthal co-wrote the special with director Reinaldo Marcus Green.
Brad Winderbaum previously described the story as “a shotgun blast” in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, while Bernthal told The Hollywood Reporter that fans should not expect “Punisher-lite.” He promised a darker and more intense version of the character.
Frank Castle first became a fan favorite after appearing in Daredevil Season 2 on Netflix. His popularity quickly led to The Punisher, which ran for two seasons from 2017 to 2019. The series earned praise for Bernthal’s performance, violent action, and grounded storytelling. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 1 holds a 68% critic score and 88% audience score, while Season 2 has a 61% critic rating.
The upcoming special continues Castle’s MCU story after Daredevil: Born Again, and is part of Marvel Phase Six.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on SuperHeroHype.
