Vincent D'Onofrio: Wilson Fisk's Movie Rights Tangled Up

It seems that fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will have to adjust their expectations regarding the appearance of Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, in future films. Vincent D’Onofrio, who portrays the iconic villain in the television series, recently shared some disheartening news on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz.

D’Onofrio revealed that due to complex ownership issues, his character is restricted to television appearances only. "The only thing I know is not positive," he stated, explaining the challenges Marvel faces in utilizing his character across different media. "It's a very hard thing to do, for Marvel to use my character... because of ownership and stuff." This means that fans won't see D’Onofrio's Wilson Fisk in any MCU movies, including the anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday.

This revelation also raises questions about potential future projects, such as a standalone Daredevil movie featuring Charlie Cox, where D’Onofrio's presence as the villain would be expected. The rights complications seem to be a significant barrier to Fisk's inclusion in the broader MCU cinematic universe.

D’Onofrio first brought Wilson Fisk to life in the 2015 Netflix series, Marvel's Daredevil, which ran for three seasons and concluded in 2018. His performance has been widely acclaimed, and he continues to delve deeply into the character's psyche. In a recent interview with IGN, D’Onofrio discussed how he draws inspiration from the likes of Harrison Ford and Gary Cooper, aiming to infuse his portrayal of Fisk with a sense of humility and realism, especially in action sequences.

Currently, fans can catch D’Onofrio reprising his role in Daredevil: Born Again, which is airing weekly on Disney+. The season finale is set to premiere on April 15, 2025. While Fisk may be off-limits for the big screen, his television presence remains a compelling draw for viewers.