Vincent D’Onofrio went from playing NYPD Detective Robert Goren in Law & Order: Criminal Intent to embodying Hell’s Kitchen’s dreaded gangster Wilson Fisk / Kingpin in Daredevil. D’Onofrio reprised his role in four Marvel projects, including the recently released Disney+ series, Echo. The Jurassic World actor has no intentions of slowing down as he is confirmed to return in Daredevil: Born Again. He revealed that he would play the character as long as Marvel wanted him.
D’Onofrio revealed that the one aspect that might have stopped him from further playing the character had been resolved in the recent series. This major concern revolved around his health, as he had to put on substantial weight for the role previously.
Vincent D’Onofrio Committed To Go The Long Haul With His Marvel Role
Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin is at his ruthless best in the latest Alaqua Cox-led series, Echo. Fans were excited to see his return to ‘Daredevil’ form, especially after his character was not done proper justice in Hawkeye. D’Onofrio is all set to take on the role once again in MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again. The post-credits scene in Echo revealed Kingpin’s political aspirations as he vies for the position of Mayor in the upcoming series.
When Comicbook.com asked him about his future with the character, the Lift actor provided a response that pleased Marvel fans. D’Onofrio revealed that he will keep on playing the role until Marvel doesn’t want him. He shared that the only hindrance in the past had been the physical toll of putting on weight for the role, which may have impacted his overall health. However, the new Marvel-made muscle fat suits made that job easier for him. D’Onofrio told Comicbook.com:
“The only thing that could have held me back would be if I just had to keep on putting on all that weight and keep it on. And so I don’t have to do that anymore, so I’m in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. I love these new kinds of ways that they actually construct the muscle fat suits that I have to wear.”
D’Onofrio revealed that not only did they help him remain in shape, but they felt comfortable and looked fitting for his portrayal of Kingpin. He no longer had to worry about the unhealthy practice of constantly gaining and losing weight for the role. The Men in Black actor concluded that, as long as he had the passion and ability, he couldn’t see himself not playing the iconic role. D’Onofrio shared:
“I think they finally work and feel right and look good. That helps a lot because it’s not the healthiest thing in the world to keep putting weight on and taking it off again. So yeah, I mean, as long as the powers that be will have me, I can’t see not playing this part, it’s so much fun.”
Moreover, D’Onofrio dropped a hint during the interview regarding potential changes to Daredevil: Born Again. In September 2023, the series was sent back to the drawing board after the start of production, with a replacement of several crew members. D’Onofrio suggested that the initially announced 18-episode run of the series might not materialize after this overhaul.
Vincent D’Onofrio Confirms Daredevil’s Continuity From Netflix Version
Earlier this year, Daredevil fans received the welcoming news that the Netflix-Marvel shows had officially been made MCU canon. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, D’Onofrio confirmed that Kingpin and Daredevil in the MCU were indeed the same characters from the show’s Netflix run. After the September reset, D’Onofrio shared that the creative team made it clear that the new series would maintain a strong connection to its Netflix origins.
The new series could now explore the cool collateral stories left unexplored from the three-season run of Daredevil. The Judge actor added that when Born Again begins, Kingpin and the blind superhero will carry their history established in the earlier shows. D’Onofrio shared with The Hollywood Reporter:
“So we are for sure only speaking about it in terms of being directly connected to the original Daredevil, and that’s a great thing. It brings in a lot of cool stories and all the collateral story that happened in those original three seasons. So we now get to start this Born Again situation with all of that history behind us and the outcome of all that history.”
Daredevil: Born Again is expected to premiere on Disney+ in 2025. In the meantime, fans can revisit D’Onofrio’s performance as Wilson Fisk in Daredevil and Echo, by streaming these shows on Disney+. Echo is also available for streaming on Hulu.
