Vincent D’Onofrio To Play Kingpin In Netflix Original 'Daredevil' Series

Vincent D’Onofrio has some big shoes to fill. The star has been tapped to play Wilton Fisk, aka Kingpin in Marvel Comics’ “Daredevil” series, a Netflix original series coming in 2015.

D’Onofrio, who had his breakthrough role as the psychotic Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence in 1987’s “Full Metal Jacket,” will star as the oversized crime boss who squares up against blind lawyer Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox. While Fisk attempts to pass himself off as a legitimate businessman, Murdock moonlights as the superhero Daredevil.

D’Onofrio previously starred in TV’s “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” and will also appear in 2015’s “Jurassic Park” sequel, “Jurassic World.”

Kingpin was previously portrayed by Michael Clarke Duncan in 2003’s “Daredevil” film, which was a critical and box office failure for star Ben Affleck. While Affleck is now filming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” as the Dark Knight, D’Onofrio once cameoed as another Marvel Comics character in 1988’s “Adventures in Babysitting,” appearing as Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

Netflix is producing the show with Marvel Studios along with three other Marvel Comics series: “Luke Cage,” “Iron Fist” and “Jessica Jones.” Each series will film 13 episodes leading up to a miniseries event, with the four heroes teaming up for an “Avengers”-style crossover called “The Defenders.” Steven S. DeKnight recently replaced Drew Goddard as the series’ showrunner. “Daredevil” was written by Goddard, who will remain on board as an executive producer.