Vincent D’Onofrio’s Dream DCU Character Is The Only Role I Think Could Beat His Kingpin

Vincent D'Onofrio has revealed his dream casting choice for the DCU, and I'm convinced it could even beat his iconic Kingpin role. Vincent D'Onofrio is best known for portraying Wilson Fisk in the MCU's Daredevil series and recently reprised the role for Hawkeye and Echo. D'Onofrio has been lauded for his portrayal in every appearance, bringing an emotional depth that transforms him into one of the MCU's most sympathetic villains with a terrifying intensity and effortlessly commanding screen presence.

While he is now an established MCU icon, D'Onofrio has yet to join the growing list of DC universe characters. With the DCEU giving way to the DCU reboot, that door is now wide open for D'Onofrio to showcase the range encapsulated in his Kingpin role. I think the DCU has the opportunity to capitalize on his talents even further, introducing him as one of the most nuanced and compelling characters in comic book history while affording D'Onofrio the chance to play a good guy, for once.

Vincent D'Onofrio's Swamp Thing Has So Much Potential In The DC Universe

Swamp Thing Has The Potential To Break New Ground In The Superhero Genre

Vincent D'Onofrio attended this year's Dragon Con and stated as part of a panel that Swamp Thing was one of the comics he read while growing up, along with Captain America and Spider-Man. He went on to state that Swamp Thing would consequently be his dream DCU role, laying the groundwork for what I think would be the perfect casting decision for the unusual DC character. Given the DCU's upcoming Swamp Thing movie is in its earliest stages of production, there is plenty of potential for this dream to bear fruit - and I hope it does for everyone's sake.

The upcoming Swamp Thing movie exemplifies the DCU's new ethos of showcasing its most understated characters. Swamp Thing isn't the least recognizable villain in DC's roster, but it feels decidedly fresh nonetheless. The fact that he is so steeped in symbolism means that DC has the opportunity to deliver one of the most poignant and cerebral superhero movies ever made while capitalizing on the visual spectacle inherent in Swamp Thing's design. With D'Onofrio in the starring role, I think that DC's Swamp Thing could be immensely beneficial for all parties involved.

Swamp Thing Offers An Even Wider Range In The Superhero Genre Than The MCU's Kingpin

Swamp Thing Can Capitalize Fully On D'Onofrio's Talents

Swamp Thing is one of the most complex characters in comics. His monstrous appearance belies his virtuous nature as a champion of the environment and forces him to wrestle with his conflicting outward appearance and empathetic nature. His complicated characterization as a plant elemental that bears the consciousness of a human, Dr. Alec Holland, adds another layer to his existential crisis, all of which culminates in him being a reclusive, philosophical, and deeply introspective hero, the likes of whom are rarely, if at all, adapted for the big screen.

Needless to say, this is the perfect role for D'Onofrio, whose portrayal of Kingpin as a tortured yet intrinsically violent villain is rife with nuance. Yet the MCU's Kingpin is constrained by his inherently villainous nature, hemming D'Onofrio into a more predictable character that will almost always resort to violence and expressions of power. This was most recently seen in Echo with his excessive reaction to Maya Lopez disowning him. With Swamp Thing, D'Onofrio can explore a far greater range with a character that is inherently empathetic but fiercely protective of "The Green," a metaphor for nature.

I Think Vincent D'Onofrio Is The Perfect Swamp Thing Casting

Vincent D'Onofrio Boasts The Credentials Needed For Swamp Thing

D'Onofrio may have made waves recently as Kingpin, but his overall acting credits are impressive. He made a huge splash as the villain Edgar in 1997's Men in Black, a character that is quite literally a giant cockroach wearing a human skin suit. His portrayal of this character was one of the movie's most entertaining and memorable features. Before this, D'Onofrio made a name for himself for his portrayal of Pvt. Pyle in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket: a character who descends into madness following harsh treatment from his brothers-in-arms.

The incredibly complex Swamp Thing is a character that requires an actor of D'Onofrio's proven capability. Aside from his ability to convey a deep pathos with his characters, D'Onofrio additionally boasts the correct stature for Swamp Thing. Furthermore, there is a lot of merit in having an actor portray a character that they have a significant emotional investment in - something which Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool is living proof of. Now that D'Onofrio has laid his cards on the table, I think DC needs to take note and seriously consider this golden opportunity when it comes to casting for Swamp Thing.