Mark Ruffalo is praising Jon Bernthal’s Punisher ahead of Hulk’s MCU return in Spider-Man 4.
Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner/Hulk in Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man 4, also known as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is currently in production. Also starring in the movie alongside Ruffalo and Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man is Bernthal, who plays Frank Castle/Punisher in the MCU.
What did Mark Ruffalo say about Spider-Man 4 and Jon Bernthal?
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Ruffalo reiterated that he hasn’t yet seen the script for Spider-Man 4; however, he said he’s also beyond excited to work with Bernthal, whom he has yet to meet.
“If I’m doing that — which the rumors are that I am, once I get a script, I’ll know it’s real — but I love him and we have a common friend in Lena Dunham, believe it or not, who just adores him,” he said. “…I can’t wait to work with him, he’s so funny and he’s such a great actor. He plays that character like nobody else. I’m really excited to meet him, I’ve never met him!”
Plot details for Spider-Man 4 remain under wraps at this time. The cast of the movie, which is being directed by Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Destin Daniel Cretton, includes Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, and Michael Mando as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, the latter of whom hasn’t been seen in the MCU since 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Additionally, Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink, The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas, and Severance’s Trammel Tillman have all been cast in undisclosed roles.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in United States theaters on July 31, 2026, as part of Phase Six of the MCU. Following that comes Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.
