The first behind‑the‑scenes look at Ma Gnucci and Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher has been spotted on the set of Marvel’s Punisher special presentation in New York City.
In the above image, we can see Ma Gnucci — the Punisher villain who is canonically wheelchair‑bound in the comics after surviving brutal attacks — in a wheelchair, pointing forward at Bernthal’s Punisher.
Who is Ma Gnucci in Marvel Comics?
In Marvel Comics, Ma Gnucci is the ruthless head of the Gnucci crime family in New York City. She first appeared in The Punisher Vol. 4 #4 (2000), in the “Welcome Back, Frank” storyline by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. After surviving a series of attacks — including being thrown into a pack of polar bears at the zoo — she loses her arms and legs and ends up confined to a wheelchair.
When Frank Castle (the Punisher) declares war on organized crime, Ma Gnucci becomes his main target, as she sends wave after wave of assassins, thugs, and hitmen after him.
Most recently, some set leaks from New York reveal Gnucci’s Restaurant and the Punisher in action.
During the special announcement, Bernthal said, “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.” Bernthal added, “We’re giving it our all, and we’re trying to tell a Frank Castle story where we’re not going to turn our backs 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. I’m just beyond honored and grateful that we get the opportunity.”
Bernthal also revealed how the standalone special will compare to the Netflix series. He teased, “It’s going to be dark; Frank has no interest in breaking out of the darkness. It’s not going to be easy. If that’s the Netflix tone, then that’s what it’s going to be. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.”
Reinaldo Marcus Green will be directing the special and co‑writing the script with Bernthal, who returns as The Punisher.
Produced by Marvel Studios, the Punisher special presentation will be released on Disney+ in 2026.
