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

Vincent D’Onofrio, known for his compelling portrayal of Wilson Fisk in the Marvel series "Daredevil," has shared some disappointing news for fans hoping to see the character on the big screen. In a recent interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast with Josh Horowitz, D’Onofrio revealed that due to complex ownership rights, his character is restricted to television appearances only. "It's a very hard thing to do, for Marvel to use my character," D’Onofrio explained, adding that a standalone Wilson Fisk movie seems out of the question. "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 means that fans won't see D’Onofrio's Fisk in upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films such as "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "Avengers: Doomsday." This development could also impact any future plans for a Charlie Cox-led Daredevil movie, where Fisk's presence as a formidable villain would be expected.

D’Onofrio first brought the complex character of Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin, to life in the 2015 Netflix series "Daredevil." Over the course of three seasons and nearly 40 episodes, his performance garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and critics. D’Onofrio's approach to Fisk was deeply influenced by classic performances, as he revealed in an interview with IGN. He drew inspiration from actors like Harrison Ford, focusing on their ability to convey humility and realism even in action-packed scenes. "Anytime they were in a fight, or they were holding a gun, they looked nervous," D’Onofrio said, citing the likes of Gary Cooper in "Sergeant York" as an example of how humility can enhance the authenticity of action sequences.

Currently, fans can catch D’Onofrio's nuanced portrayal of Fisk in "Daredevil: Born Again," which is airing weekly on Disney+ and will conclude its first season on April 15, 2025.