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

It turns out that fans of the menacing Hell's Kitchen villain Wilson Fisk, portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio, might not see him on the big screen anytime soon. According to D’Onofrio's recent comments on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, the character's use in films is highly restricted due to complex ownership issues.

"The only thing I know is not positive," D’Onofrio revealed. "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 elaborated that he is currently only available for television projects, ruling out any 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."

This limitation could have broader implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially excluding D’Onofrio from films such as the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. It may also affect any future plans for a 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 New York City’s most powerful crimelord turned mayor, to life in Marvel’s *Daredevil* on Netflix. The series, which ran for three seasons and concluded in 2018 with nearly 40 episodes, earned D’Onofrio widespread acclaim for his nuanced portrayal. He has shared insights into his approach to the character, drawing inspiration from iconic performances.

Speaking to IGN last month, D’Onofrio discussed how he channels the humility seen in action scenes by actors like Harrison Ford. "Anytime they were in a fight, or they were holding a gun, they looked nervous," he noted. "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 as Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again, which is airing weekly on Disney+ and will conclude its first season on April 15, 2025.