A long-awaited live-action clash between Kingpin and Spider-Man may still be tangled in studio complexities, according to Vincent D’Onofrio. The actor, who portrays Wilson Fisk in Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again, recently addressed fan hopes for the iconic rivalry to make its way to the big screen.
Responding to a social media user, D’Onofrio didn’t mince words, saying, “If Sony and Marvel ever get their sh*t together, maybe. It’s a complicated rights issue. Hope so.” His comment highlights the ongoing challenges tied to character ownership, with Sony controlling Spider-Man’s film rights while Marvel retains creative stakes in characters like Kingpin.
Despite belonging to the same comic-book universe, the two characters have largely been kept apart in live-action due to these legal arrangements. Spider-Man has appeared within Marvel’s cinematic ecosystem through collaborations, including films like Avengers: Infinity War, but standalone control remains with Sony.
Interestingly, Kingpin and Spider-Man have shared screen space before, albeit in animated form. In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Liev Schreiber voiced Kingpin opposite Shameik Moore’s Miles Morales.
D’Onofrio most recently reprised his role as Fisk in the latest season of Daredevil: Born Again, which debuted on Disney+. The new storyline sees his character ascend to the role of New York City mayor, wielding power in increasingly dangerous ways with the backing of a brutal Anti-Vigilante Task Force.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man’s cinematic journey continues with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set for release on July 31. The film features Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker, alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the story follows the aftermath of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the world forgets Peter Parker’s identity.
