This man could be more than just muscles and brain. Well, if not for a hero, he could be a king, and what Vincent D’Onofrio recently said makes sense. D’Onofrio, known for his portrayal of Kingpin in Marvel’s Daredevil, expressed his desire to take Kingpin to new depths, drawing inspiration from Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime himself, for a ‘What If…’ series,
This idea of adding a way darker side to Kingpin will actually elevate the character beyond traditional storylines. Money, unbeatable physique, cunning mind, connections from legal world to underworld, Kingpin has got it all. Drawing parallels with the Joker, who is celebrated for his psychological complexity, will transcend Kingpin’s usual role as just a gritty adversary to a villain with nail biting suspenses.
Marvel’s move towards ‘street level heroes’ universe will be a ‘yay!’ moment for characters like Kingpin to bring a realistic narrative at the forefront with a compelling, dark backstory. Including a grim origin, motivation (for beating up the superhero?), and a pinch of psychological makeup will add up spice for Kingpin’s portrayal. Just like Joker having Gotham City as a backdrop, the ‘all new’ Kingpin can be provided with a similar platform to comment on societal issues, strengthening his persona on screen.
However, a unique darker tone must be set for Kingpin, with a nod to his established traits such as unfathomable intellect and under-the-table connections, so he can be known as the first Kingin, and not the second Joker. One needs to be way ahead of the curve, especially for a villain, and this idea might just be right for Kingpin.