When Vincent D’Onofrio signed on to play Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk in Daredevil, some eyebrows were raised. Sure, he had the acting chops and bald head, but he didn’t possess that domineering size that Michael Clark Duncan displayed in the film adaptation. Thirteen episodes later and Kingpin was one of the best villains The MCU churned out, mainly due to the psychotic, physical performance displayed by Mr. D’Onofrio.
However, with Matt Murdock looking to team up with the rest of the Defenders in the near future, who knows if his life will ever intersect with his arch-nemesis again. Will we ever see Kingpin back in action in The MCU? Luckily, LRM Online caught up with D’Onofrio to see if he had any idea if Wilson Fisk was coming back.
“That I can’t answer. I do know, but I can’t answer… so take that how you will. Jeff and Charlie (Cox) and Netflix love Kingpin, and so, Kingpin is good for Marvel’s television stuff and I think they agree.”
That seems like a pretty solid “yes”… but he could just be leading everyone on. D’Onofrio is a busy man. Roles in blockbusters like Jurassic World and the upcoming Magnificent Seven may not leave much time for him to return to Hell’s Kitchen. Still, Netflix shows are unlike anything else on television, and without having to worry about Spring or Fall deadline commitments, the minds behind Daredevil can always just work around D’Onofrio’s busy schedule.
“Marvel, the company, and especially Jeff Loeb, who runs Marvel Television, he’s a clever dude. All those people over there are pretty clever and they love talent. There’s no giant commitment for me at Daredevil. Like I didn’t have to sign my life away at all. When Jeff tells me there’s something coming up and if I’m available, I’ll be there. And because it’s written so well, I’m going to show up. I’m going to do everything I can because the writing is so good. And then there’s a company like Netflix and they’re not pressuring you either. They just want good material, good content. They give you money to make good content, so they’re not pressuring actors to sign their life away either…. I think that there’s this common ground where they say, ‘Look, if the material is good are you going to show up?’ and I said, ‘Definitely’.”
So with Vincent D’Onofrio down to reprise the role – with Marvel and Netflix happy with his performance –  and several series connected to the point where characters can show up without a moment notice, there are several possibilities where Fisk can show his face. While Daredevil Season Three seems unlikely considering how far out it is (if it happens at all), there are other options where Kingpin could show up, including….
1. Luke Cage
Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple is supposed to be the bridge among all Netflix shows, and is confirmed to show up in Luke Cage (which begins streaming on the 28th). But why should she have all the fun? While Fisk rules Hell’s Kitchen, perhaps he needs to do some business with Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes in Harlem. Kingpin doesn’t have to be in the show long, or even come in contact with Cage, but just showing his face in one scene will go a long way in proving how connected these shows can be.
2. Iron Fist
If D’Onofrio doesn’t have time for Luke Cage, perhaps he can show up for the next Defender outing with Iron Fist. As we saw in Season One of Daredevil, Fisk had some dealings with the Yakuza and the Hand. Perhaps when Danny Rand returns home, his past (including encounters with the two crime organizations) come back to haunt him. Not only that, but businessman Fisk isn’t happy Rand Enterprises is back up and running and looks to take Danny out. Perhaps Kingpin is the connection to Iron Fist and Daredevil meeting up… leading to the eventual Defenders collaboration.
3.The Punisher
Speaking of Daredevil connections, lets not forget that Kingpin tried to have Frank Castle killed in Season 2. Things didn’t go exactly as planned for Fisk and now there’s an armed madman probably looking for some vengeance. While The Punisher will probably get his own personal antagonists to have fun with when his solo series is released, don’t think Castle has forgotten about Fisk. Just let the two duke it out mano-a-mano – in the rain – and make it extra bloody.
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Why should Netflix be the only one pulling The Kingpin’s strings? Wilson Fisk and Peter Parker have a lengthy history that could easily play out on the big screen. Sure, Homecoming already has its fair share of villains, but who’s getting hurt by including Kingpin in on the action (well, except for Spider-Man)? He doesn’t need to get involved in the events, just have a presence. It’s about time The MCU movies and shows have a solid connection. Let the Kingpin be the one who brings everyone together.
So what do you think? Are you happy that Vincent D’Onofrio might still be part of The MCU’s Netflix series? If so, where do you hope he turns up next?
