Punisher: One Last Kill and the effects of Disney’s restructuring

The upcoming streaming special, Punisher: One Last Kill , offers a look at the iconic antihero Frank Castle. Set to arrive soon on Disney+, the special is meant to set Castle up for his role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day , which hits theaters on July 31, 2026.

Disney’s changes and their impact

In April 2026, Disney announced significant layoffs, including a major hit to Marvel Studios’ visual development team. The move has fueled speculation among fans and actors that Disney plans to replace artists with artificial intelligence (AI).

Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s CEO, said the company needs to be "more agile and technologically better equipped" to meet future demands. Those comments have been met with criticism over the quality of visual effects in recent projects.

Visual effects issues

A scene from Punisher: One Last Kill has drawn a lot of attention online because it looks like a low-budget PlayStation 3 video game. In one specific scene, around the 32-minute mark, Punisher is shown in a fight sequence where he lands on a metal box.

Despite the CGI issues, the special appears to be well received so far by both fans and critics. While the technical shortcomings may slightly affect the experience, the story and action remain appealing.

Details about the special

The runtime of Punisher: One Last Kill is 48 minutes, and it includes several action-packed scenes, including one on a rooftop that went viral on social media. The special lays the groundwork for Punisher’s future role in the MCU.

Overall, the situation around Punisher: One Last Kill offers an interesting look at current trends within Disney and Marvel, with implications that may extend beyond this single production.