Here’s a bold statement for you: despite rumors swirling that Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, is now the mayor of NYC in the MCU, fans won’t be seeing Vincent D’Onofrio reprise his iconic role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And this is the part most people miss—it’s not about the story or the character’s fit in the Spider-Man universe; it’s all about the rights. Yes, you heard that right. In a recent interview on The Playlist’s Bingeworthy podcast, D’Onofrio himself shut down the speculation, stating, ‘No. I think I’ll just wait until they have the rights to my character and they put me in one of those movies, and then I’ll figure it all out.’ But here’s where it gets controversial: could this be a hint at larger behind-the-scenes complexities between Marvel Studios and Marvel Television? After all, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a Marvel Studios production, while Daredevil: Born Again—where D’Onofrio will return as Fisk—falls under Marvel Television, premiering March 24 on Disney+. Is this a missed opportunity for cross-platform synergy, or a necessary boundary to maintain creative integrity? Let’s not forget, D’Onofrio’s Kingpin first captivated audiences in Netflix’s Daredevil from 2015 to 2018, and his absence in the Spider-Man film might leave some fans wondering what could have been. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), has already wrapped filming and is set to hit theaters July 31 as a prelude to Avengers: Doomsday. With Zendaya returning as MJ and newcomers Sadie Sink and Liza Colón-Zayas joining the cast, the film is shaping up to be a blockbuster. But the question remains: will we ever see Kingpin and Spider-Man cross paths on the big screen? What do you think—is this a rights issue worth solving, or should these characters stay in their respective lanes? Sound off in the comments below!
