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

It seems that fans of the iconic Hell's Kitchen villain, Wilson Fisk, portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio, will have to temper their expectations for seeing him on the big screen. In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, D’Onofrio shed light on the complex legal landscape surrounding his character. "The only thing I know is not positive," he stated, referring to the challenges Marvel faces in using his character due to ownership issues. "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."

D’Onofrio further clarified that his portrayal of Fisk is limited to television projects, dashing hopes for a standalone Wilson Fisk movie. "I’m only usable for television shows. Not even a one-off Wilson Fisk movie. It’s all caught up in rights and stuff. I don’t know when that would work out — or if it ever would work out at all," he explained. This revelation effectively rules out any appearances in upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. Moreover, it raises questions about the feasibility of a potential Charlie Cox Daredevil movie, where Fisk's presence as a villain would be expected.

D’Onofrio first captivated audiences with his role as Fisk, also known as Kingpin, in the 2015 Netflix series Marvel's Daredevil. Over the course of three seasons, ending in 2018 with nearly 40 episodes, his performance garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and critics. D’Onofrio's dedication to his craft is evident in his approach to portraying Fisk, drawing inspiration from legendary actors like Harrison Ford. "Anytime they were in a fight, or they were holding a gun, they looked nervous," he told IGN, highlighting the humility and realism he strives to bring to Fisk's action scenes. "They carried their own humility into the action scenes with them. And I always thought that that was the way to go. That made it look real to me. Gary Cooper in Sergeant York, when he takes aim, when he becomes the sniper, it's the humility in his eyes that you see. It's amazing. I think that helps action stuff a lot. We're all very conscious of that."

Currently, fans can catch D’Onofrio reprising his role in Daredevil: Born Again, which is airing weekly on Disney+ with the finale set to premiere on April 15, 2025.