If you happen to’re a fan who’s been maintaining with upcoming Marvel motion pictures and new MCU TV exhibits, you in all probability know that Vincent D’Onofrio performs one in all Marvel’s coolest villains. The seasoned actor portrays the intimidating crime boss Wilson Fisk a.ok.a. Kingpin. As acclaimed as D’Onofrio’s efficiency has been, he just lately fired again at a fan who complained that Kingpin was “nerfed.” I appreciated that D’Onofrio finally did it with the type of confidence that solely Fisk may pull off.
D’Onofrio put a stamp his the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kingpin in three gritty seasons of Netflix’s Daredevil in addition to appearances in Hawkeye and Echo. The character returned amid the 2025 TV schedule in Daredevil: Born Once more. Let’s simply say Fisk hasn’t turn out to be any softer with age, and this backs up my perception that the MCU’s TV villains are one of the best on the market. However not everybody agrees. One fan went on X (formerly Twitter) to say Marvel “nerfed” Kingpin in his newest look, suggesting they toned him down for a broader viewers. D’Onofrio wasn’t having any of that, saying:
I’ve to say I disagree with all that you simply say. To be trustworthy my performances have been known as many issues however by no means nerfed. Lol.But I do not play the half only for you and you do not watch television only for me. So we’re even and I settle for your criticism. Irrespective of the shortage of fine sportsmanship, equity and legitimacy.
Increase. Sleek, measured, and completely Fisk-like. As an alternative of lashing out or dismissing the fan’s opinion outright, Vincent D’Onofrio approached the criticism with a little bit of humility, however he didn’t miss the teachable second which had offered itself. In a collection of follow-up posts, he went deeper, pulling again the curtain on what it actually takes to carry a fancy character like Kingpin to life on display screen. He added:
I management my character’s efficiency. You’re a bit inexperienced in relation to your information on making a present. The element, the writing, the applied sciences and the general construction and structure in laying out the storyline and executing performances. You retain saying it is the writing that’s the drawback. You might not prefer it. Many do although. We will not please everybody however we will please tens of millions they usually’ve stated so. Our followers are very loud.
He didn’t cease there. In what may be essentially the most swish burn of the yr, D’Onofrio provided some genuinely smart recommendation, not only for the commenter, however for anybody with robust opinions on artwork and media:
As an example I had been you and I hated the portrayal of Kingpin as a lot as you do. I might keep away from it. I might champion storytelling that I like as a substitute of dragging writers and somebody’s efficiency. As an actor I fail in my eyes on a regular basis and likewise in my previous work many occasions however I preserve making an attempt to get it proper. All inventive sorts have that in frequent. What we do not do is attempt to spoil tens of millions of others’ enjoyable once we don’t love a bit. As an alternative, we champion the stuff we do like and turn out to be impressed by it. Strive it. It makes life a lot extra sustainable and sure, inspiring.
Agree with this fan or not, it’s laborious to disclaim how passionate the Full Metallic Jacket actor is concerning the position he’s been engaged on since 2015. His tackle Kingpin is a giant a part of what makes Daredevil so memorable, and his intelligent reply exhibits he cares simply as a lot off-screen as he does when the cameras are rolling.
As for what’s subsequent? D’Onofrio is confirmed to return as Wilson Fisk in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Once more. That apart, it sadly would not seem like the actor will be part of a Spider-Man film. Earlier than D’Onofrio celebrated Jon Bernthal’s Punisher being added to Spider-Man 4, he confirmed that Kingpin couldn’t seem as a result of authorized causes. Whereas that my certainly be disappointing for avid comedian guide followers, there’s consolation to be present in the truth that Born Once more will proceed to showcase D’Onofrio’s stellar work.
Marvel followers can take a look at Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin via all his appearances by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.