Vincent D'Onofrio Discusses Wilson Fisk's Movie Rights Issues

Fans of the Marvel universe have been dealt a surprising blow regarding the future of Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, on the big screen. Vincent D’Onofrio, who brilliantly portrayed the character in the Netflix series *Daredevil*, recently shared some disappointing news during an interview on the *Happy Sad Confused* podcast with Josh Horowitz. D’Onofrio revealed that due to complex ownership rights, his character is restricted to television appearances only and cannot be featured in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies.

"The only thing I know is not positive," D’Onofrio stated. "It's a very hard thing to do, for Marvel to use my character. It's a very hard thing to do, because of ownership and stuff." He further clarified that even a standalone Wilson Fisk movie is off the table, expressing uncertainty about when, or if, these rights issues might ever be resolved.

This revelation dashes hopes of seeing D’Onofrio reprise his role in upcoming MCU films such as *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* and *Avengers: Doomsday*. It also raises questions about potential future projects like a *Charlie Cox Daredevil* movie, where fans would expect to see D’Onofrio's Kingpin as the formidable adversary.

D’Onofrio first brought Wilson Fisk to life in the acclaimed Netflix series *Daredevil*, which ran for three seasons from 2015 to 2018, amassing nearly 40 episodes. His performance as the powerful New York City crimelord and future mayor has been widely celebrated by both fans and critics. D’Onofrio's approach to the character is deeply influenced by classic performances, as he shared with IGN last month.

"Anytime they were in a fight, or they were holding a gun, they looked nervous," D’Onofrio said, reflecting on the performances of actors like Harrison Ford. He admired how these actors brought a sense of humility into their action scenes, making them feel more authentic. He cited Gary Cooper's role in *Sergeant York* as an example, noting the humility in Cooper's eyes when he takes aim, which D’Onofrio believes enhances the realism of action sequences.

Currently, fans can catch D’Onofrio's portrayal of Wilson Fisk in *Daredevil: Born Again*, which is airing weekly on Disney+ and is set to conclude its first season on April 15, 2025.