Michael Clarke Duncan Played Marvel's Kingpin Not Once, but Twice

Duncan was a renowned actor, who was mostly known for his performance in Frank Darabont’s The Green Mile (1999). In 2003, he brought one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, the Kingpin, to life in Daredevil. His portrayal of Wilson Fisk was nothing short of brilliant.

In the 2003 Daredevil film, Duncan’s character is a crime lord and a wealthy executive, whose criminal network ties him to both Daredevil (Ben Affleck ) and Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner).

The film depicts a young Matt Murdock, who would later become Daredevil, set on his path after his father is killed by Fisk. Duncan’s Kingpin is as physically imposing as his comic book counterpart, and his confident performance has made the character unforgettable.

Duncan’s casting as Kingpin was groundbreaking at the time, but it also sparked controversy. Kingpin is traditionally depicted as a white character in the comics. Director Mark Steven Johnson told Yahoo that casting Duncan, a Black actor, in the role was met with some backlash.

However, Johnson stood by his decision. He saw Duncan as the perfect person for the part, emphasizing that he was looking for the right actor, not the right race. Despite the initial controversy, Duncan’s portrayal is now praised.

But Duncan’s time as the Kingpin didn’t end with Daredevil. He reprised his role, lending his voice to Kingpin in the 2003 MTV show Spider-Man: The New Animated Series. Even without his physical presence, Duncan made sure that his voice carried the same gravitas and menace that he had brought to the live-action portrayal of the villain.

Despite the mixed reviews that the 2003 Daredevil movie received, Duncan’s Kingpin was a standout character, and fans still regard him as one of the best portrayals of the infamous bad guy.

Sadly, Michael Clarke Duncan passed away in 2012. The next actor to play a live-action Kingpin was Vincent D'Onofrio in the Daredevil series on Netflix. But you can't really put these two versions of the character side by side and say which one is better, as they're both awesome in their own right.

Source: Yahoo