Marvel Boss Kevin Feige Opens up on Bringing Back Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin

Marvel’s Hawkeye is filled to the brim with interesting characters, and one of them is Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, the seedy Kingpin from Netflix’s Daredevil series. D’Onofrio’s return has been the subject of many rumors leading to Hawkeye’s series debut, and it was ultimately confirmed at the end of the show’s fifth episode. In the series, the crime boss was revealed as the Big Bad Evil behind the Tracksuit Mafia. Kingpin’s inclusion makes narrative sense, especially considering that the show is already set in New York City

If this reveal didn’t make you jump off your couch with excitement, then, well, you’ve clearly been hiding under a rock.

The latest installment unveiled that it was actually the idea of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to bring Kingpin back. Hawkeye executive producer Brad Winderbaum first discussed how the comeback came to light, explaining the show’s need for a “really big threat” that would make Vera Farmiga’s Eleanor Bishop “shake in her boots.”

Which makes sense, cause Hawkeye’s set-up of a New York City criminal boss paved the path for a sensible return of D’Onofrio’s villain.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige is famous for taking big risks, and this is the latest: recruiting Vincent D’Onofrio from Netflix’s Daredevil is a solid example to drive the point home. Additionally, this behind-the-scenes story further proves to us fans the idea that the higher ups from Marvel Studios are just as big fans of the MCU as we are.

In an interview with the D’Onofrio, the actor noted how the conversation about his return went down between him and Feige.

Scoring Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin is literally the only acceptable choice. While Kingpin had a limited role in the Hawkeye series, he delivered many exciting moments and teases his interesting future in the franchise. Hawkeye’s finale ended with Kingpin seemingly being shot by Echo, but many would agree that the series is not the last time that fans will see the New York crime boss.

FYI, It’s just fun to point out that Netflix’s Kingpin is arriving in the MCU around the same time that a whole bunch of actors who played Spider-Man villains in non-MCU Spider-Man movies returned to the big screen.