Daredevil , one of Marvel’s many in-the-works series being put out exclusively on Netflix, has found its main villain. Vincent D’Onofrio, 54, who is most known for his tenure on Law & Order: Criminal Intent , has been cast to play Kingpin.
When it launches sometime next year, the 13-episode series will join ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter , a spin-off from the first Captain America movie which is expected to premiere in the middle of next season.
Kingpin’s real name is Wilson Fisk, who is described by EW .com as “ a powerful businessman whose interests in the future of Hell’s Kitchen will bring him into conflict with the blind attorney Matt Murdock and his alter ego Daredevil.” Daredevil himself will be played by Charlie Cox of Boardwalk Empire fame.
The last person to play Kingpin was the late Michael Clarke Duncan when Ben Affleck played Daredevil back in 2003. The movie was not received very well, and many in the comic book community still blame Affleck for the movie’s failure. Some are still so bitter about it that when it was announced that Affleck was going to play Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice , the Internet exploded with outrage.
Marvel’s head of television, Jeph Loeb, said in a statement obtained by E! Online that:
“We’re incredibly proud to have an actor with the gravitas and versatility of Vincent joining Marvel’s Daredevil in such an integral role. Wilson Fisk is an iconic villain whose cunning and power make him the dangerous equal of our hero.”
Here is Marvel Entertainment’s tweet officially announcing the breaking news:
Breaking News: Vincent D’Onofrio is Wilson Fisk on #Marvel ‘s @Daredevil on @Netflix : http://t.co/NUAzpBvA6p pic.twitter.com/6HX9nQ11CF
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) June 10, 2014
Fans of the Marvel universe are definitely going to get more than their helping of their favorite comic book characters coming to life in the very near future. Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones are all characters that are said to be getting their own shows on the content streaming giant. In addition to that, there is even a special miniseries planned that will feature the all of them, including Daredevil, working together.
Daredevil ‘s show runner will be Steven S. DeKnight, who worked on Spartacus and, possibly more importantly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer . Drew Godard and Loeb are serving as the show’s executive producers.
No other casting details for Daredevil have been revealed yet, and its exact premiere date on Netflix has yet to be announced, according to EW .com.
[Image via LOCInumber1fan ]