Kristina Roberts
Jon Bernthal, the actor famous for playing the tough and brutal Punisher in Marvel’s Netflix series, recently shared an interesting story. He revealed that before he became Frank Castle (The Punisher), Tom Holland—the actor who plays Spider-Man—helped him prepare for the role. Even more surprising? Bernthal also helped Holland with his Spider-Man audition!
This fun behind-the-scenes moment shows how actors support each other, even when they’re playing very different characters. Let’s dive into how this happened and what it means for their roles in the Marvel universe.
How Tom Holland Helped Jon Bernthal Land The Punisher Role
While filming the movie Pilgrimage together in 2017, Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland became friends. At the time, Bernthal was preparing to audition for The Punisher, a role that required a lot of intensity. Since Holland was around, Bernthal asked him to read lines with him as a practice partner.
Bernthal said, “He read with me for Punisher.”
This simple act of help made a big difference. Bernthal went on to impress Marvel and Netflix, landing the role of Frank Castle, a former Marine who becomes a violent vigilante after his family is killed.
But the favor didn’t stop there.
Jon Bernthal Returned the Favor – Helping Tom Holland Become Spider-Man
Around the same time, Tom Holland was auditioning for Spider-Man. Knowing how important the role was, Bernthal stepped in to help.
Bernthal explained, “I read with him for Spider-Man, and we both got cast.”
This means that both actors helped each other land their iconic Marvel roles—Holland as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and Bernthal as the ruthless Punisher.
Their Different Paths in the Marvel Universe
Even though both actors are part of Marvel, their characters have very different stories:
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man first appeared in Captain America: Civil War (2016) as a young, witty hero.
Jon Bernthal’s Punisher debuted in Daredevil Season 2 (2016) as a violent anti-hero, later getting his own series in 2017.
While Spider-Man fights with humor and agility, The Punisher uses guns and brute force. Despite their differences, both characters are fan favorites.
The Punisher’s Return in Daredevil: Born Again
After years away, Jon Bernthal is back as Frank Castle in the new Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again. He’ll reunite with Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, along with other familiar faces like:
Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page)
Wilson Bethel (Bullseye)
Vincent D’Onofrio (Kingpin)
Fans are excited to see Punisher’s return, especially since his Netflix series was widely praised for its dark, gritty storytelling.
This behind-the-scenes moment shows that even in Hollywood, teamwork and friendship matter. Two very different actors—one playing a cheerful superhero and the other a deadly vigilante—helped each other succeed.
It also reminds us that big roles often come from preparation and support. Without Holland’s help, maybe Bernthal wouldn’t have been as convincing in his Punisher audition. And without Bernthal’s help, maybe Holland wouldn’t have nailed his Spider-Man test.
