Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin Simply Must Start Appearing In MCU Movies

The brilliant Vincent D’Onofrio has now appeared as the villainous crime lord Kingpin, aka Wilson Fisk, in three Marvel Cinematic Universe television series. They are Daredevil (27 episodes), Hawkeye (two episodes), and Echo (four episodes). He’s done a tremendous job as an iconic character and received widespread praise from critics and fans alike. Rather excitingly, he’s also set to appear in a fourth series in 2025, with Daredevil: Born Again premiering on Disney Plus in March.

However, the level of D’Onofrio’s performance and the character’s standing means he deserves a bigger stage and should be starring in movies. Kingpin has appeared in films before — most notably in 2003’s Daredevil when the late, great Michael Clarke Duncan portrayed him — but it’s time for that to happen again. This is why Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin needs to start appearing in Marvel Cinematic Universe movies after his upcoming appearance in Daredevil: Born Again.

Vincent D’Onofrio’s Performance

For his performance as the character alone, D’Onofrio deserves to take Kingpin to the big screen.

As with several of his performances, the way Vincent D’Onofrio plays Kingpin is an acting masterclass. It warrants showcasing on the biggest stage. D’Onofrio’s embodiment of the character is remarkable. He presents a towering and menacing physical threat and expertly balances Wilson Fisk’s emotional complexities.

He succeeds in simultaneously being frightening and vulnerable. D’Onofrio’s size, combined with his deliberately heavy movements, emphasizes how physically powerful the Kingpin is, and when he unleashes physical violence, it’s brutal enough to terrify anyone. However, his traumatic past also echoes through his every word and movement. Despite his deep and bellowing voice, he’s still somehow softly spoken, with obviously suppressed frustrations and emotional scars beneath the surface (often presented through fidgeting, interruptions in his speech and breathing patterns, or subtle trembling). It’s a wonderfully nuanced performance that almost has audiences rooting for him despite his blatant malevolence.

Interactions With Spider-Man

It’s easy to forget that Kingpin was introduced as an enemy of the Webbed Wonder in Marvel’s comic books.

Given Kingpin’s recent live-action appearances have presented him as an antagonist of Daredevil, Hawkeye, and Echo, it’s easy to forget that when he first appeared in Marvel’s comic books in 1967’s The Amazing Spider-Man #50, he was introduced as a villain for the red and blue-clad Webbed Wonder to go up against. With that in mind, it’s about time that Marvel respects Kingpin’s origins, and he gets to clash with Spidey on the big screen.

A sequel to Spider-Man: No Way Home is scheduled for release in 2026, and that presents the perfect opportunity to have Tom Holland’s Peter Parker encounter Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk (who may well be New York City’s mayor by then, which should make their meeting inevitable). Spider-Man’s villains in the MCU have been a little weird and wacky (Vulture with his alien tech, Mysterio with his fake elemental creatures, etc.), so a more grounded villain, with armies of criminals working under him, and whose mind is as much of a weapon as his body, would present a different and intriguing new challenge for the superhero.

His Best Comic Book Moments Deserve Movie Adaptations

Many of Kingpin’s most memorable scenes from the pages of Marvel’s comics are fit for the big screen.

There’s no doubt that Kingpin’s comic book history boasts countless moments that deserve to be depicted in a blockbuster movie. Notably, some of his fights with Spider-Man, during which he displays surprising speed, dexterity, strength, and durability, indisputably warrant the big-screen treatment. For instance, in his first appearance in 1967’s The Amazing Spider-Man #50, he actually bests the hero in hand-to-hand combat despite possessing no superpowers. That would be superb and shocking to see in a film.

Other significant Kingpin moments that belong in a movie include when he was elected mayor of New York in 2017’s Daredevil #28, his kidnapping of J. Jonah Jameson for giving him bad press in 1967’s The Amazing Spider-Man #52 (scenes with D’Onofrio and J.K. Simmons would be incredible), and his incursion viewing party for a group of Marvel villains in 2015’s Secret Wars #1, which would be a great inclusion in the Avengers: Secret Wars movie in 2027 as it would allow four countless villains to be on the screen at the same time, making for a cool spectacle. Of course, Kingpin’s comic book back catalog has countless more movie-worthy moments, and it would be fantastic to see so many of them brought to film.

With all of that in mind, there’s a significant argument that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, aka Wilson Fisk, should appear in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie sooner rather than later. It’s great seeing him on the small screen — and fans of the MCU are understandably chomping at the bit for his upcoming appearance in Daredevil: Born Again — but an appearance in one of the franchise’s blockbuster films would elevate him to the next level. Here’s hoping it happens shortly. Daredevil: Born Again premieres on Disney Plus on March 4.

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