Vincent D'Onofrio: Wilson Fisk's Movie Appearance Blocked by Rights Issues

Fans of the iconic Hell's Kitchen villain, Wilson Fisk, might have to adjust their expectations regarding his appearances on the big screen. Vincent D’Onofrio, who brilliantly portrays Fisk in the series Daredevil: Born Again, 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 issues, his portrayal of Fisk is restricted to television and cannot be used in standalone movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"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 this limitation extends to even a potential one-off Wilson Fisk movie, leaving fans with little hope for seeing him in upcoming projects like Spider-Man: Brand New Day or Avengers: Doomsday. This news could also impact the possibility of a Charlie Cox-led Daredevil movie, where D’Onofrio's presence as the villain would be highly anticipated.

D’Onofrio first brought Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, to life in the 2015 Netflix series Marvel’s Daredevil. Over its three seasons, which concluded in 2018 with nearly 40 episodes, D’Onofrio's performance garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and critics. His approach to the character, inspired by the likes of Harrison Ford and other classic actors, emphasizes a sense of humility and realism, even in high-stakes action scenes. "Anytime they were in a fight, or they were holding a gun, they looked nervous," D’Onofrio shared with IGN, highlighting how these everyman qualities influenced his portrayal of the multifaceted villain.

Currently, fans can catch D’Onofrio reprising his role in Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again, which is airing weekly on Disney+ and is set to conclude its finale on April 15, 2025. Despite the limitations on his character's future in the MCU, D’Onofrio's dedication to bringing depth and authenticity to Wilson Fisk continues to captivate audiences.