Vincent D’Onofrio Returning As Kingpin In Another Marvel Series?
Could Vincent D'Onofrio be returning to play Kingpin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? A new rumor has the studio angling for the casting
This article is more than 2 years old
While a number of Netflix Marvel heroes are setting up to make their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s not quite as clear as to what will happen with its villains. While clearly not the focal point of most shows, there were a couple of standout performances from the streamer. And one of them was Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin. Well, a new rumor from We Got The Covered has it that Marvel wants to bring him over to the franchise and put him into one of their new series.
This latest rumor, and it is very much just a rumor, would have Vincent D’Onofrio joining the new series Echo on Disney+. From a story perspective, the casting of Kingpin makes a ton of sense considering he actually acts as the character’s adoptive father in the comic books. Adding in Kingpin as part of the backstory almost seems like an imperative. And in terms of just the larger Marvel landscape, this character is fundamental to many story arcs. It stands to reason they would begin the process of integrating that character sooner than later.
Vincent D’Onofrio took the role of Kingpin back in the first season of Netflix’s Daredevil, setting up the Wilson Fisk character with deft and cunning. He was both a master manipulator and a physical brute. The actor’s turn as the character was masterful and he brought a number of different layers to the guy who controls the criminal underworld but also has struggled with the emotions and loves in his life. This was all on display by D’Onofrio as he came at odds with Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock. He was featured in all three seasons of the show in varying capacities, having the arc nearly completed in Season 3.
But adding him to the Echo series would be the way to go for Vincent D’Onofrio considering the backstory of the character will likely involve how she came about her powers and was, at once, on the wrong side of the law. In the comic books, Echo is Maya Lopez whose father was killed by Kingpin. She is deaf but has extraordinary powers when it comes to mimicking her adversaries. She can pick up on anything they do and mirror it almost exactly, even becoming better than them in the process. It is the Kingpin who begins to have her harness these and she eventually begins working for him in a criminal capacity.
The upcoming series Echo will come after Hawkeye airs. We aren’t going to see any of the Netflix characters making their way to the screen in that one, but it’s coming. Charlie Cox will have a role in She-Hulk and there’s talk of Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher eventually getting in on the action as well. Marvel seems to be picking and choosing their spots with the Netflix group and Vincent D’Onofrio would be another welcome addition.
The reason Vincent D’Onofrio and others can come over from the streaming platform is the rights to those characters sunsetted after two years of the streamer canceling and discontinuing the programs. It’s been a staggered timeline, but now all are free to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney+ could choose to reset the stories or pick up where some of them left off. If that’s the case then Kingpin would be behind bars. But if Echo is a full origin story then we might be jumping back in time some as well. Here’s to hoping D’Onofrio makes the move.
