Vincent D'Onofrio: Wilson Fisk's Movie Rights Complicate Daredevil: Born Again

Fans of the iconic Hell's Kitchen antagonist, Wilson Fisk, portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio, have received disappointing news regarding his future on the big screen. In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, D’Onofrio shared some disheartening insights about his character's limitations due to rights issues. "The only thing I know is not positive," he stated, explaining the complexities Marvel faces in utilizing Fisk in movies. "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 clarified that his portrayal of Fisk is restricted to television, dashing hopes of seeing him in standalone films. "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." This revelation seemingly eliminates the possibility of Fisk appearing in any Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, including the anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. It also raises questions about the feasibility of a potential Charlie Cox Daredevil movie, where D’Onofrio's presence as the villain would be expected.

D’Onofrio first brought Fisk, also known as Kingpin and the future mayor of New York City, to life in the 2015 Netflix series Marvel’s Daredevil. Over three seasons and nearly 40 episodes, his performance garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and critics. Reflecting on his approach to the character, D’Onofrio told IGN last month about drawing inspiration from everyman performances by actors like Harrison Ford. "Anytime they were in a fight, or they were holding a gun, they looked nervous," he noted, emphasizing the importance of humility in action scenes. He cited Gary Cooper's role in Sergeant York as an example of how such humility enhances the realism of action sequences.

Currently, viewers can catch D’Onofrio reprising his role in Daredevil: Born Again, which is airing weekly on Disney+ and set to conclude its first season on April 15, 2025. While Fisk's future in the MCU's cinematic universe remains uncertain, fans can still enjoy his compelling portrayal on the small screen.