Vincent D’Onofrio’s performance as Wilson Fisk in the Netflix series Daredevil is pitch perfect, but that perfect casting almost didn’t happen

by Steven S. DeKnightshowrunner on the first season of Daredevil, always knew D’Onofrio was the ideal choice for the role, but convincing the actor to join the project was no easy feat. In a recent interview with Italian: while promoting his new comic Comixology Originals, UnderDeKnight recalled how he almost passed up the opportunity to have D’Onofrio on the show. As a huge comic book fan, especially Daredevil, DeKnight wanted to make sure every character in the live-action adaptation was perfectly represented, including the infamous Kingpin.

The fight to get D’Onofrio as Kingpin

From the beginning, DeKnight had a clear idea of ​​who he wanted for the role of Kingpin. “I spent sleepless nights trying to decide who would be Wilson Fisk,” DeKnight said. “My feeling was that there was only one person who could do it, and that was Vincent D’Onofrio.” However, the show’s executives did not share his initial enthusiasm, mainly because of the the high cost of hiring a star of D’Onofrio’s stature.

The showrunner recalled a pivotal conversation with the executive producer My Friend Jeph Loebin which she tried to convince him by sending him a photo of D’Onofrio with a shaved head, saying: “Come on. There’s no one else who can do this. This is Kingpin“But Loeb responded with skepticism, saying D’Onofrio was “too expensive.” At the time, it seemed like the ideal casting for Kingpin was out of reach.

The key was an unexpected personal connection

But fate had other plans. A few months later, the casting director of the series, Ray Mayfieldsaid she was a personal friend of D’Onofrio. “Let’s see if there’s any interest,” Mayfield said, opening a door that seemed closed. What happened next was a pleasant surprise: D’Onofrio has revealed himself to be a big fan of Daredevil and the comics generally. “Yes, I would like to do that. Come on, we will find a solution for the price,” was the actor’s response.

The rest, as they say, is history. D’Onofrio’s performance as Kingpin was unanimously praised by critics and fansbecoming one of the highlights of the series. His Wilson Fisk not only stayed true to the comic book character, but added an emotional depth that resonated with audiences.

Charlie Cox’s role as Daredevil was also a success

In addition to D’Onofrio, another key casting that marked the series was that of Charlie Cox as Matt Murdockthe protagonist. While DeKnight was instrumental in the overall vision of the series, he acknowledged the origin of Cox’s casting Joe Quesadaexecutive producer of the show. According to DeKnight, Quesada had seen Cox in a movie years earlier and knew immediately that “that was Matt Murdock.” And he wasn’t wrong. Cox’s performance as Daredevil was so perfect that he became a mainstay of the series as well.

Today, the series Daredevil remains one of Marvel’s most beloved adaptations and its legacy lives on on the platform Disney+. In addition, fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Daredevil: Rebornwhich will be released in March 2025. The impact of D’Onofrio and Cox’s performances has been so profound that it’s hard to imagine these characters without them.

This behind-the-scenes story reveals that sometimes the best decisions in film and television aren’t the easiest to make. However, perseverance and a little luck can make the creators’ vision come to life in the most spectacular way. Daredevil It wouldn’t be the same without D’Onofrio and Cox, and that’s something fans around the world appreciate.