In a disappointing revelation for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans, Vincent D’Onofrio, the actor who has brought the menacing Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, to life, has confirmed that his character is currently restricted from appearing in MCU films. This brings many fans sad news as this is likely the case with his counter part, Daredevil.
D’Onofrio, speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with host Joshua Horowitz, explained the situation: “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.” The actor elaborated further in a follow-up comment, noting, “It’s a very hard thing for Marvel to do, to use my character.” The root of the issue lies in a complex web of character rights shared between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, a recurring challenge in the MCU’s history of integrating Spider-Man-related characters.
Kingpin, a character who debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #50 in 1967, has a unique history that spans both Spider-Man and Daredevil narratives. Initially a prominent Spider-Man villain, Wilson Fisk became a central antagonist in Daredevil’s world during the 1980s, thanks to writers like Frank Miller. This dual association has led to a tangled rights situation. Sony Pictures, which holds the film rights to Spider-Man and related characters, appears to have control over Kingpin’s cinematic appearances, while Marvel Studios retains the ability to use the character in television projects.
This isn’t the first time rights issues have complicated Marvel’s plans. Historically, characters like Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch were shared between Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox due to their ties to both the Avengers and X-Men. That situation was resolved following Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019, but the Kingpin dilemma persists. As noted in a web article from Nerdist, the character’s appearance in the 2003 Daredevil film (played by Michael Clarke Duncan) and in Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (voiced by Liev Schreiber) suggests a split in rights that may differentiate between live-action films, animated projects, and television.
The dream of seeing Kingpin in a Spider-Man film is particularly tantalizing given the character’s history with Peter Parker in the comics. A live-action showdown between Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and D’Onofrio’s Kingpin would be a cinematic event, especially after the success of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, where D’Onofrio has continued to deliver a chilling performance as the crime lord. However, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the official title for the fourth MCU Spider-Man film, set to release on July 31, 2026—already in production, D’Onofrio confirmed earlier this year that Kingpin will not be involved.
The rights issue with Kingpin highlights a broader challenge for Marvel Studios as it navigates its shared universe with Sony. Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), which includes films like Venom and Morbius, operates separately from the MCU but occasionally intersects, as seen with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man appearances in MCU projects. A 2019 agreement between Disney and Sony allowed Spider-Man to continue in the MCU, with Marvel Studios co-financing 25% of the films in exchange for a share of the profits. This deal also opened the door for Spider-Man to potentially “cross cinematic universes,” but characters like Kingpin remain caught in limbo.
Looking ahead, the resolution of Kingpin’s rights issues remains uncertain. Sony’s control over nearly 900 Spider-Man-related characters, as confirmed in a 2018 legal document, gives the studio significant leverage. However, fans remain hopeful that future negotiations or a potential shift in Sony’s strategy could pave the way for Kingpin to step onto the big screen.
As Vincent D’Onofrio’s revelation about Kingpin’s exclusion from MCU films underscores the ongoing challenges of character rights in the ever-expanding Marvel universe. While fans may be disappointed, D’Onofrio’s powerful portrayal of Wilson Fisk continues to shine on television, keeping the character’s legacy alive. Whether Marvel and Sony can untangle the legal knots to bring Kingpin to the MCU’s cinematic landscape remains to be seen, but for now, the crime lord’s reign is confined to the small screen, much to the displeasure of fans dreaming of a Spider-Man vs. Kingpin showdown.
