Kingpin won't appear in Avengers: Doomsday as Marvel-Sony rights dispute continues
Rights disputes between Marvel and Sony are keeping Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin out of Avengers: Doomsday. The actor confirms Marvel doesn't fully own his character, blocking the villain from the MCU's next big team-up despite fan demand.
Vincent D'Onofrio has confirmed that Kingpin will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, citing ongoing rights issues between Marvel and Sony that prevent the character's MCU appearances. As reported by GQ, the actor explained that Marvel doesn't fully own his character's rights, keeping the villain out of Marvel's next big team-up film.
Key Takeaways
- Vincent D'Onofrio confirmed Kingpin will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday due to ongoing Marvel-Sony rights issues.
- Marvel doesn't fully own Kingpin's rights, with Sony currently using the character in animated Spider-Verse films.
- Charlie Cox's Daredevil may cameo in Spider-Man: Brand New Day's prison breakout sequence based on set photos.
- Avengers: Doomsday releases on 18 December 2026, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives 31 July 2026.
- The rights dispute also prevents Kingpin from meeting Tom Holland's Spider-Man in the MCU.
Why can't Kingpin appear in Marvel movies?
According to Vincent D'Onofrio, Marvel's hands are tied when it comes to using Kingpin in their films. The character's rights are currently split between Marvel and Sony, with the latter utilising him in their animated Spider-Verse films. This creates a legal hurdle that prevents his live-action MCU appearances, despite fan demand.
"Right now, they don't have the rights," D'Onofrio told GQ. "They have a bit more rights than they did a couple of years ago, but it's tough right now. They have the rights to a lot of characters from the Spider-Man series but they don't have mine, not completely."
The situation also prevents Kingpin from meeting Tom Holland's Spider-Man — a crossover that would make sense given their comic book history. D'Onofrio remained hopeful about future appearances but was clear about his absence from the upcoming Avengers film.
What this means for the MCU
These rights complications highlight the ongoing challenges Marvel faces in bringing certain characters to the big screen. While Marvel has regained some control over Spider-Man characters in recent years, the Kingpin situation shows that some fan-favourite villains remain out of reach for now.
The timing is particularly frustrating given Kingpin's prominent role in Daredevil: Born Again and his established MCU presence. This signals that Marvel's character roster for major films like Avengers: Doomsday may be more limited than fans expect.
Is Daredevil appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
While Kingpin remains sidelined, speculation about Charlie Cox's Daredevil appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues to build. Set photos from Daredevil: Born Again season three show Cox in prison uniform, fueling rumours about a potential cameo in the upcoming Spider-Man film.
The Brand New Day trailer revealed a prison breakout sequence, leading fans to theorise that Daredevil might appear in the same facility. This wouldn't be unprecedented — Cox already appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, proving that some character crossovers remain possible despite the rights complexities.
Adding to the speculation, The Punisher is confirmed to play a major role in Brand New Day. Given the connections between these characters from the Netflix Marvel series, a brief Daredevil appearance seems increasingly plausible, though nothing is officially confirmed.
When and where to watch in UAE
UAE cinema fans can catch Spider-Man: Brand New Day when it releases on 31 July 2026, followed by Avengers: Doomsday on 18 December 2026. Both films will likely receive wide releases across UAE cinema chains including VOX, Reel Cinemas, and Novo Cinemas.
Marvel films typically perform exceptionally well in UAE cinemas, with superhero content remaining among the most popular genres for local audiences. The Brand New Day footage shown at CinemaCon suggests another blockbuster entry in the Spider-Man franchise, even without Kingpin's involvement.
Release dates for UAE audiences
Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in UAE cinemas on 31 July 2026, while Avengers: Doomsday follows on 18 December 2026. Both films will be available with Arabic subtitles across major cinema chains in the Emirates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Kingpin be in Avengers: Doomsday?
No, Vincent D'Onofrio confirmed he will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday due to ongoing rights issues between Marvel and Sony. Marvel doesn't fully own the character's rights.
Why can't Kingpin appear in Marvel movies?
Marvel does not fully hold the rights to Kingpin, which are currently being used by Sony for its animated Spider-Verse films. This creates legal hurdles for his MCU live-action appearances.
Is Daredevil appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
While not officially confirmed, speculation suggests Charlie Cox's Daredevil might have a cameo in the prison breakout sequence shown in the Brand New Day trailer.
When do these films release in UAE?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases on 31 July 2026, while Avengers: Doomsday arrives on 18 December 2026 in UAE cinemas.
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