Was Kingpin nerfed in Daredevil: Born Again? Vincent D’Onofrio gives his thoughts on how his character was changed for the Disney Plus series.
Given Kingpin has been the Netflix character with the most screentime in the modern MCU, fans have had a lot to say about the translation of his performance to Disney Plus. Many claim that the new platform has watered down Vincent D’Onofrio’s iconic villain, leaving him a bland and nerfed shell of his former self. The exemplar of this being, to some, his role in Daredevil: Born Again.
Vincent D’Onofrio has been no stranger in calling out people on social media when it comes to their takes on Kingpin, and this is no exception. When responding to comments that he was “nerfed” in Daredevil: Born Again, the actor remarked that not every performance needs to be for everyone, and that he is still very much in control when it comes to how his iconic character is portrayed.
“I have to say i disagree with all that you say,” D’Onofrio wrote on Twitter/X “To be honest my performances have been called many things but never nerfed. Lol. Yet i don’t play the part just for you and you don’t watch tv just for me. So we are even and i accept your criticism. No matter the lack of good sportsmanship, fairness and legitimacy.”
“I control my characters performance. You are a bit green when it comes to your knowledge on making a show,” He continued in a subsequent post. “The detail, the writing, the technologies and the overall structure and architecture in laying out the storyline and executing performances. You keep saying it’s the writing that is the problem. You may not like it. Many do though.”
“We can’t please everyone but we can please millions and they’ve said so. Our fans are very loud. Lets say i were you and i hated the portrayal of kingpin as much as you do. I’d stay away from it. I’d champion storytelling that i love instead of dragging writers and someone’s performance.”
“As an actor i fail in my eyes everyday and also in my past work many times but i keep trying to get it right. All creative types have that in common. What we don’t do is try and ruin millions of others fun when we don’t like a piece. Instead we champion the stuff we do like and become inspired by it. Try it. It makes life so much more sustainable and yes, inspiring.”
Given Daredevil: Born Again was written by a different staff than the original Netflix series, it only makes sense that Kingpin felt a bit different in the Disney Plus continuation. However, as Vincent D’Onofrio stated, some fans prefer the the political subterfuge of the current Kingpin when compared to the almost jack-booted thug vibe of early Daredevil.
It’s possible that, as the team behind Daredevil: Born Again finds their sea legs, fans may see Vincent D’Onofrio return to a more violent incarnation of Kingpin. However, given it’s been a decade since the actor started playing the character, it’s understandable that he’d want to shake things up now that he’s found a new home on Disney Plus.
Daredevil: Born Again is now streaming on Disney Plus, with season 2 set to release in March 2026. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
