Vincent D’Onofrio Says Rights Issues Are Keeping Kingpin Out of Spider-Man

Vincent D’Onofrio has confirmed that he will not return as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He said that character rights issues prevent him from appearing as Kingpin in a Spider-Man film.

In a recent interview with The Playlist, D’Onofrio was asked about the possibility of his Wilson Fisk crossing paths with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, as there are rumors that Fisk could appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, especially since Fisk is now the Mayor of New York City in the MCU.

D’Onofrio shut down those rumors, confirming that he is not appearing in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He said that character rights issues are the main reason the crossover hasn’t happened.

D’Onofrio said, “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.”

D’Onofrio currently appears to have a deal only with Marvel Television for Daredevil: Born Again. Appearing in a feature film would require a separate contract and new negotiations. Spider-Man films are owned by Sony Pictures, meaning any crossover requires agreements between Sony and Marvel.

Each use of a Marvel character in a Sony-led Spider-Man film involves complex legal negotiations. Until those rights and deals are finalized, Kingpin’s appearance in a Spider-Man movie remains off the table.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton from a screenplay by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The film stars Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon reprising their roles as MJ Watson and Ned Leeds. Sadie Sink joins the cast alongside Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle (a.k.a. The Punisher) and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. Liza Colón-Zayas and Tramell Tillman have also been cast in undisclosed roles, while Michael Mando returns as Mac Gargan from Spider-Man: Homecoming and Jones III has been confirmed to play the role of Tombstone. Additionally, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova will appear in the movie.

Here’s the new synopsis for Spider-Man: Brand New Day:

After the world has forgotten his name, Peter Parker (Holland) begins a new chapter in his life — balancing college classes, part-time work, and his responsibility as New York’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. But when a mysterious force begins to unravel the city from the inside out, Peter finds himself caught between powerful enemies, old legacies, and unexpected allies. As shadows from the past creep into his present, he must redefine what it truly means to be a hero — on his own.

The film is produced by Amy Pascal, Rachel O’Connor, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Mitch Bell.