Marvel's Ambitious Kingpin Plot: Will They Succeed?

The limited series Echo, which focuses on Kingpin's deaf lieutenant Maya Lopez and saw her shoot the big bad in the face in the Hawkeye finale, brought back Vincent D'Onofrio's villain. By the end of the story, the Kingpin might have undergone significant changes. This could result in a new version of the character in future appearances on Disney+ series or in MCU movies.

To make this happen, Marvel needs to follow through on what it has set up, something the MCU hasn't done much of lately. The franchise is also undergoing a major retooling after a year of disappointments and the departure of Jonathan Majors. Echo seems like an afterthought that Marvel released on Disney+ and Hulu with little fanfare simply because it was already made.

However, there are additional elements to consider - the largest franchise in Hollywood has many intricate components. In order to fully understand the situation, it is necessary to delve into potential spoilers.

Caution: The rest of this post will provide a detailed discussion of the conclusion of Echo, including its mid-credits scene. Spoilers ahead!

The climax of Echo is quite unusual. After Maya executes some bold moves against Kingpin's organization, the man himself appears alive and well in Oklahoma, attempting to persuade her to return to the fold by professing that he still regards her as family. However, Maya refuses, prompting Kingpin to gather his men and prepare to invade the local Pow Wow, essentially a Choctaw county fair.

Surprisingly, there is no significant action sequence. Maya and Kingpin have their confrontation in a barn away from the festivities, and they don't engage in much physical combat. Instead, Maya taps into the power of her ancestors to alter Kingpin's memory, effectively erasing the childhood memory of him using a hammer to kill his father—ironically, the same hammer he had previously offered to Maya as a gift.

It is still unknown how this will impact him as a person, but clearly something has changed - he repeatedly yells "WHAT DID YOU DO?" at Maya as his henchmen pull him away. Later, in a mid-credits scene, the emotional kingpin is seen listening to a radio report about the uncertain New York City mayoral election. It's obvious - he plans to run for mayor, or so the scene tells us.

The issue here is that the MCU doesn't appear to follow through. It introduces elements and doesn't resolve them (like Shang Chi, Eternals, and Moon Knight), or releases stories in the wrong order and doesn't provide adequate context (like Spider-Man: No Way Home/Doctor Strange 2, and Secret Invasion/The Marvels). Kingpin's sudden appearance in the Hawkeye finale as the surprise antagonist behind the true villain felt like a last-minute change - and Marvel is known for making major story revisions during reshoots.

I have two questions. Will D'Onofrio's Kingpin make a significant appearance in the future? And if so, will he undergo any changes as a result of Maya's actions?

If the new Daredevil series does come to fruition, it's likely that Kingpin would be included. However, it's important to note that the entire MCU timeline has been shifted, so it's not guaranteed. While Kingpin may make cameo appearances in other New York-based MCU projects, his presence would not hold much significance if he remains unchanged. If Disney decides to prioritize the familiar version of Kingpin to cater to audiences, there is a possibility that the character will not experience any substantial development.

I hope D'Onofrio's Kingpin will play a major role in the MCU, and maybe that's what Echo is foreshadowing. However, I don't see any reason to assume they will use him much. Perhaps Marvel Studios themselves are uncertain. I admit that I saw the current crisis in the MCU coming a while ago, and I've repeatedly spoken about the toll that disconnected and incomplete stories would take on fan enthusiasm in the long term. With the MCU mostly taking this year off, changes will be made, but that doesn't guarantee they will be the right ones. I hope this new take on Kingpin won't end up being another neglected plot thread--Marvel already has too many of those.

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Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I have mixed feelings about Marvel's ambitious Kingpin plot. On the one hand, I am excited to see Vincent D'Onofrio reprise his role as the iconic villain in the upcoming Echo series and potentially future MCU projects. D'Onofrio's portrayal of Kingpin in the Netflix Daredevil series was truly exceptional, and I believe he brings a unique depth and menace to the character.

However, I am concerned about Marvel's ability to follow through on the intriguing plotline they have set up for Kingpin. The MCU has a history of introducing elements and characters without fully resolving their storylines or providing adequate context. This has led to some confusion and frustration among fans. I hope that Marvel will take the time to develop Kingpin's character and explore the consequences of Maya Lopez's actions in a meaningful way.