Development
By September 2018, Marvel Studios was developing several limited series for Disney's new streaming service Disney+, to be centered on "second tier" characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films who had not and were unlikely to star in their own films. Developing content for Disney+ allowed Marvel Studios to be flexible with formats, such as emulating one-off or annual holiday-themed television specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and Frosty the Snowman (1969); those specials were usually 30 minutes to an hour, which was the length Marvel Studios was envisioning for their specials.
In December 2020, Marvel Studios announced The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special for Disney+, to be released in late 2022, during the holiday season. The Holiday Special was the first piece of content Marvel Studios planned to create for Disney+. By August 2021, a Halloween-themed television special for Disney+ was in development, reportedly centered on Werewolf by Night. At the D23 Expo in September 2022, Marvel confirmed the Halloween special as Werewolf by Night, which was released in October. At that time, the Special Presentation banner was revealed, under which Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special would be released as "Marvel Studios Special Presentations". Marvel Studios executive Brian Gay called the Special Presentations a "new format" for the studio, with each special meant to be a short look at "either a different story or a different area of the universe", such as introducing new characters or concepts to the MCU, and teasing how they could further integrate into the MCU with future appearances.
Michael Giacchino, the director of Werewolf by Night, said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was hopeful that Werewolf by Night would be "the first of a few one-and-done stories". By the release of Werewolf by Night, Marvel Studios had not determined any set release plan for potential future specials. By March 2023, a special centered on Mephisto was reportedly in production. In May 2024, Marvel Studios revealed that its live-action Disney+ series would be released under a new "Marvel Television" banner, separate from the previous company of the same name; this followed changes that the studio made to its television approach, moving towards a more traditional model, which were revealed in October 2023. Feige said in July 2024 that an additional special was in development that was planned to be released after 2025, and Marvel Studios' head of streaming, television, and animation Brad Winderbaum confirmed in September that more specials would be developed. In February 2025, a Special Presentation centered on Frank Castle / Punisher was announced to be in development with Jon Bernthal reprising the role as well as co-writing the special; The Punisher: One Last Kill is set to be released in May 2026 as a "Marvel Television Special Presentation".
