Vincent D'Onofrio wants a key role in the upcoming Swamp Thing movie in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe, and his iconic MCU role of Kingpin has already proven he'd be perfect. Vincent D'Onofrio first appeared as Wilson Fisk's Kingpin in Marvel Television's Daredevil series, which debuted on Netflix in 2015 as the first installment in the Defenders Saga. Since the Defenders Saga has recently been confirmed to be canon to the MCU, D'Onofrio is now able to make his mark on the MCU proper as Kingpin, but his superhero franchise career may only just be beginning.
After his role as a major MCU villain in Hawkeye, Echo and the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, Vincent D'Onofrio has the opportunity to make the move to the new DC Universe. James Gunn and Peter Safran's new franchise is expected to completely revamp DC's live-action storytelling, and poaching some of the strongest MCU talent would be a great way to build a strong reputation quickly. While many actors from Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy movies are rumored to be involved with the DCU, D'Onofrio has also revealed his dream DC role.
Vincent D’Onofrio Would Be Great As Swamp Thing In James Mangold’s Upcoming DCU Movie
Vincent D'Onofrio Read Captain America, Spider-Man & Swamp Thing Comics Growing Up
At this year's DragonCon (via Everything_DCU), Vincent D'Onofrio revealed which comic book characters he loved growing up. He revealed that his favorite comics growing up featured characters such as Captain America, Spider-Man and Swamp Thing, and followed by noting that he would "really like to play Swamp Thing." First seen in 1971's House of Secrets #92, Swamp Thing is one of DC Comics' weirdest characters, but Vincent D'Onofrio would nevertheless be an inspired choice to play the anthropomorphic plant-matter creature.
These days, I don't know why – I don't know if you guys are into DC like I am. Obviously, I like Marvel, too, because that's my job. My comic books when I was a kid [were] Captain America, Spider-Man, Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing. I would really like to play Swamp Thing.
James Gunn confirmed plans to develop a new Swamp Thing movie back in January 2023, with the project set to be released as part of the DCU's Chapter 1, titled "Gods and Monsters." In April 2023, acclaimed filmmaker James Mangold (Girl, Interrupted, Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) confirmed that he was penning the script for the DCU's Swamp Thing movie (via Collider). It's very possible that Vincent D'Onofrio could become Swamp Thing in the DCU, and his portrayal of Kingpin in Marvel's superhero franchise has already proved that he'd be perfect for the role.
Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin Proves He'd Be Ideal For The DCU's Swamp Thing
Kingpin & Swamp Thing Actually Share Several Similarities
Swamp Thing is one of DC's most complex characters, and is presumably a difficult character to portray correctly. Swamp Thing was created when scientist Alec Holland was killed in an explosion in his swamp-based lab which doused him in a bio-restorative formula. The release of this formula affected the plant life in the swamp, turning it sentient and conscious, and leading to the emergence of the Swamp Thing. Despite being a creature comprised of plant matter, Swamp Thing is a hugely emotional being, and Vincent D'Onofrio has already proved he can strike the balance between man and monster perfectly.
Throughout his portrayal of Wilson Fisk's Kingpin, D'Onofrio has shown himself to be adept at adding real emotion and pathos to a character who so many could simply mistake for a lumbering beast. This would be a fantastic quality to see in Swamp Thing, too. His experience in the MCU has also demonstrated that D'Onofrio is more than capable of working in a large franchise for an extended period of time. Just as Kingpin is not always the focus of the MCU, he is a prominent character in his own corner of the franchise, and Swamp Thing will likely be the same.
Kingpin & Swamp Thing's Story Similarities Underline Why D'Onofrio Would Be A Solid DC Universe Casting
Kingpin & Swamp Thing Share One Major Storyline In Common Which Makes Vincent D'Onofrio Perfect For The Role
One of the most endearing and important storylines in Swamp Thing's DC Comics history is his romance with Abby Cable, the niece of his deceased nemesis, Anton Arcane. After Arcane possesses Cable's husband, Matthew's, body, and kills his niece, Swamp Thing travels into the mystical Green, the Spirit World and even to Hell in an effort to retrieve Abby's soul. Their love is one for the ages, so it's very likely that this romance will be explored in the DCU's upcoming Swamp Thing movie, and this makes Vincent D'Onofrio an even more perfect casting.
D'Onofrio has expertly delivered every intricate emotion that comes with being in love as the brute that is Kingpin.
D'Onofrio's portrayal of Wilson Fisk has demonstrated time and again that even the most complicated and tough characters have the capacity for love. Kingpin's long-running romance with Ayelet Zurer's Vanessa in the MCU bears similarities to Swamp Thing's love for Abby Cable. D'Onofrio has expertly delivered every intricate emotion that comes with being in love as the brute that is Kingpin, and it would be incredible to see him repeat this beautiful and tender storyline in James Mangold's Swamp Thing movie.
