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The MCU’s Best Villain Actor Wants to Jump to The DCU (And Fans Approve It)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts a series of inspired casting choices that seamlessly merged actor and character. For instance, Robert Downey Jr.’s pitch-perfect portrayal of Tony Stark, Chris Evans’ earnest rendition of Steve Rogers, and Scarlett Johansson’s enigmatic portrayal of Natasha Romanoff are widely regarded as the definitive versions of these characters. On the television side, few performances have been as impactful as Vincent D’Onofrio‘s portrayal of Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime. His nuanced depiction of the villain helped define the critical success of Marvel’s street-level sagas, beginning with Daredevil and continuing through his menacing return in Daredevil: Born Again. After years of embodying one of the most compelling villains in the MCU, D’Onofrio has his sights set on a very different comic book role, one that would see him jump to the rival DC Universe.
“Yes, he should,” D’Onofrio stated unequivocally on X.com, responding to a fan’s question if he should be cast as Swamp Thing in the new DCU. This public declaration is the latest in a series of comments from the actor, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to portray the iconic elemental hero. Furthermore, at Dragon Con in 2024, D’Onofrio listed the character alongside Batman and Spider-Man as one of his childhood comic book favorites, making it clear his interest is born from a long-held passion. The actor’s simple but direct social media post quickly went viral among comic book movie fans, sparking a wave of enthusiastic support on forums like the r/DC_Cinematic subreddit, where the sentiment was almost unanimously in favor of the casting choice.
The fan-driven campaign comes as DC Studios is actively developing a Swamp Thing film as a cornerstone of its new cinematic universe. The project was announced by co-CEO James Gunn as part of the initial slate for “Chapter 1: Gods & Monsters,” with acclaimed director James Mangold attached to write and direct. Mangold has described his vision for the film as a “simple, clean, Gothic horror movie” in the vein of classic monster stories like Frankenstein. The film is expected to draw inspiration from Alan Moore’s seminal run on the comic book, delving into the dark and tragic origins of the scientist Alec Holland, who is reborn as a monstrous champion of the natural world.
Vincent D’Onofrio Will Return as Kingpin for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
Even as he campaigns for a heroic turn in the DCU, Vincent D’Onofrio’s future in the MCU is firmly secured. The actor will return as Mayor Wilson Fisk in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, which is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in March 2026. Following a creative overhaul that split the original 18-episode plan into two distinct seasons, the upcoming chapter will pick up directly after the dramatic cliffhanger of the first. Season 2 is being described by its creative team as a “resistance tale,” focusing on Matt Murdock’s (Charlie Cox) efforts to rally allies and fight back against Fisk’s authoritarian rule over New York City. The new season will continue to integrate characters from the broader Marvel Netflix legacy, with Krysten Ritter officially reprising her role as Jessica Jones.
The story of the Kingpin’s war with Daredevil may not end with the second season. D’Onofrio himself has confirmed that there is a plan in place for a potential third season of Daredevil: Born Again, though its fate ultimately rests on the reception of the upcoming episodes. This long-term strategy aligns with Marvel’s renewed focus on developing multi-season television narratives, ensuring that the Kingpin’s reign of terror has a long and bloody future in the MCU.
The second season of Daredevil: Born Again is scheduled to premiere in March 2026.
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