Hawkeye directors Bert and Bertie have opened up about bringing Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Since the Netflix Daredevil series ended, many wondered just where the series would fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and if the actors would return at some point. Charlie Cox was rumored to be returning to the role for Spider-Man: No Way Home before he was confirmed to be the MCU’s Daredevil. For the longest time, fans speculated that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin would make a return in Hawkeye given the show’s organized crime angle and the character Echo’s comic-book connection to him.
Despite Vincent D’Onofrio’s denials, the character finally made an appearance in Hawkeye‘s fifth episode. The big twist revealed that Kingpin was, in fact, the show’s big bad and that Kate Bishop’s mother, Elenore Bishop, was working for him. In the episode itself, we only ever see a picture of him walking with Elenore Bishop but Hailee Steinfeld has teased a showdown with Kingpin in the season finale.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hawkeye directors Bert and Bertie talked about the return of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin and what it meant to bring that character back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
HR: People have been bugging you in interviews about Vincent D’Onofrio, who is finally confirmed to be arriving in the finale. Did you work with him? Or was that photograph at the end of episode five captured elsewhere?
Bert: We were lucky enough to work with him and to share time and space with him. He is the most remarkable actor, the way he holds space. That was a treat. That was one of our favorite days on set.
HR: On Netflix he was the fan-favorite villain. So that’s a treat to have him back I imagine.
Bertie: It means so much. not just logistically for the world. But just the level of intense sociopathic, evilness. (Laughs.) Which is the real stake. There have been stakes building throughout Hawkeye. It starts off very fun and games and the Tracksuits and the introduction of Maya Lopez and there’s Yelena and it just keeps getting more intense. It’s wonderful being part of this show that starts as one thing and it just escalates until these tones merge, so we can go from laughing your heart out to gripping the edge of your seat.
Here is the synopsis for Hawkeye:
Former Avenger Clint Barton has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas. Possible? Maybe with the help of Kate Bishop, a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a Super Hero. The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton’s past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit.
Hawkeye stars Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Tony Dalton, Fra Free, Brian d’Arcy James, Aleks Paunovic, Piotr Adamczyk, Linda Cardellini, Simon Callow, Vera Farmiga, and Alaqua Cox. Florence Pugh also returned in her Black Widow role.
The first five episodes of Hawkeye are now available to stream on Disney Plus, with new episodes dropping on Wednesdays. Stay tuned for all the latest news surrounding the series and Vincent D’Onofrio’s return as Kingpin and be sure to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.
