Vincent D’Onofrio Pushes for Spider-Man and Kingpin Showdown, Citing Rights Issues
Vincent D’Onofrio, currently starring as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in the Disney+ series “Daredevil: Born Again,” is publicly advocating for a live-action confrontation between his character and Spider-Man. The actor expressed his desire for the matchup, attributing the delay to a “complicated rights issue” between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The Complicated Web of Rights
D’Onofrio voiced his frustration on social media in response to a fan’s post calling for the two characters to face off. “If Sony and Marvel ever get their sh*t together maybe,” he wrote on March 23, 2026. While Marvel (owned by Disney) controls the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony retains the film rights to Spider-Man and related characters.
This arrangement has allowed Spider-Man to appear in MCU films like “Avengers: Infinity War” through a collaborative agreement. However, it too creates hurdles for crossovers involving characters whose rights are split between the two studios.
Previous Encounters and Current Projects
Although a live-action showdown hasn’t occurred, Kingpin and Spider-Man have previously shared the screen in the animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018), with Liev Schreiber voicing Kingpin and Shameik Moore as Miles Morales’ Spider-Man.
D’Onofrio’s recent portrayal of Kingpin in “Daredevil: Born Again” depicts the character as the mayor of New York City, enacting policies that create conflict with other heroes. The latest season premiered on Disney+ on March 24, 2026.
Spider-Man’s Upcoming Film
Tom Holland is set to reprise his role as Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. The film also stars Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, and Mark Ruffalo, and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The trailer for “Brand New Day” surpassed 1 billion views in just four days after its release on March 17, 2026, marking a historic milestone for movie trailers.
D’Onofrio’s public call for a Spider-Man vs. Kingpin battle highlights the ongoing fan desire for greater integration between the Sony and Marvel universes. Whether the studios can overcome the existing rights challenges remains to be seen.