Updated for 2026
Kingpin is one of Marvel’s most confusing characters when it comes to screen rights. Despite appearing in the MCU through shows like Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again, he’s still missing from major Marvel movies—leaving fans wondering who actually owns him. Is he controlled by Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures, or both? The answer involves decades of licensing deals, shared rights, and some surprisingly strict limitations that still affect where—and how—Wilson Fisk can appear today.
Who Owns Kingpin in 2026? (TL;DR)
Kingpin’s rights are shared between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures. Marvel can use the character in TV series, but movie appearances are still limited due to ongoing rights agreements. Sony may have limited, legacy access to the character. However, it’s unlikely they can use him in a live-action Marvel-affiliated film without special agreement,
UPDATE: Kingpin made his first full appearance in the Disney+ mini-series Hawkeye, confirming he is now being used by Marvel. No word if the character is still owned by Sony Pictures.
We recently updated our infographic on the Marvel live-action rights, and one big question was left unanswered: Who owns the rights to produce a live-action movie or television series using Kingpin?
If the Netflix rights reverted to Marvel as a whole, shouldn’t Kingpin be in the shared Sony/Marvel space?
— Jeffrey S. Mueller (@TheMightyJerd) February 19, 2021
Who is The Kingpin in Marvel?
Wilson Grant Fisk is one of the most powerful criminals in New York City. The character was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (1967). The “Kingpin” name comes from the organized crime nickname for a crime lord or boss. Fisk rules the underworld with a combination of cruelty and charm, frequently wearing a tailored suit, an ascot, and a cane.
His signature appearance is that of a massive man with a bald head. While it appears that he’s fat, he’s actually solid muscle. Why is Kingpin so big? On the official Marvel page for Kingpin, they say, “his enormous size is comparable to that of a sumo wrestler”. He’s displayed incredible feats of strength despite having no superpowers. Like an Olympic wrestler, he’s trained his body to be able to lift 600 pounds. Spider-Man, who has super-strength, can fight Kingpin to a standstill. His bulk allows him to survive massive amounts of damage.
Why Kingpin’s Rights Are So Complicated
Kingpin’s legal situation is messy because he belongs to two major Marvel worlds:
- Spider-Man universe (Sony-controlled film rights)
- Daredevil universe (Marvel-controlled TV rights)
Originally introduced as a Spider-Man villain, Kingpin was later redefined by Frank Miller’s Daredevil run in the 1980s. That dual identity is what created the current rights confusion.
When Marvel sold Spider-Man film rights to Sony in the late 1990s, Kingpin was included as part of that broader package of related characters. But because of his strong connection to Daredevil, Marvel retained limited ability to use him—especially in television.
The comic book character was created as a Spider-Man villain, but in the 80’s, writer/penciler Frank Miller reinvented the character as a scheming crime lord who was above the law. Starting in Daredevil #170 (1981), the character soon became more closely associated with Daredevil. The blind superhero and lawyer Matt Murdock fought Daredevil in and out of the courts. In the comics, Fisk discovered Murdock’s secret identity and became obsessed with ruining his legacy.
The comic book character had several Marvel animated appearances starting in 1967 with the Spider-Man animated series, continuing through Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and beyond. But his first live-action appearance was in the live-action 1989 television movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, based on the 1970’s television series The Incredible Hulk starring Bill Bixby. In the movie, Banner is put on trial for murder, and Matt Murdock takes the case to defend him in court. As the secret superhero Daredevil Murdock fights the evil plans of the crime boss, played by John Rhys-Davies.
The live-action rights to Kingpin have gone through several paths. As I said before, Kingpin was created in a Spider-Man comic book. Based on the rights optioned by Sony Pictures, he was included in the movie rights they purchased from Marvel. Reportedly, Sony owned the film rights to Spider-Man and 900 related Marvel Comics characters since 1998. It’s said the studio can keep them as long as they release a new “Spider-Man” movie every five years and nine months.
Does Sony Own Kingpin?
Partially, yes. In 2003, Kingpin appeared in the live-action feature film Daredevil, portrayed by Michael Clarke Duncan. The movie was produced by a rival studio, Twentieth Century Fox, but the rights were still owned by Sony. The studio allowed them to use the character since he was more closely associated with the “Man without Fear” than the web-slinger. This was confirmed by Avi Arad when asked about it in 2012. Arad was talking to SuperheroHype about the upcoming Andrew Garfield film and potential villains for the sequels. The co-producer said, “Believe it or not, Kingpin was on loan to Daredevil, so again, anything that is part of the Spider-Man Universe or introduced in the Spider-Man Universe–without getting too legal beagle here–is an opportunity, and if we have a story that Kingpin is important, I’m sure we can handle that.”
Further confusing the matter in 2014, Marvel Head Kevin Feige told IGN Movies, “Kingpin, we either have or somehow share. I’m not 100 percent clear on that one.” So not even the head of Marvel really knew. In 2015, Netflix debuted its live-action television series Daredevil. Kingpin is a major villain in the show. This was mainly because of the strength of Kingpin’s role as a Daredevil villain.
Does Marvel Own Kingpin?
Yes—but with limitations. Marvel regained the live-action rights to Daredevil and related characters from Netflix, which opened the door for Kingpin’s return in the MCU. This is why he appears in Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again. However, Marvel’s control appears to be strongest on the TV/streaming side, not theatrical films.
Netflix had purchased the rights to several characters, including Daredevil. Did Netflix own the rights to Daredevil? No. Both Netflix and Sony had the right to use Kingpin.
However, in December 2020, the rights to Daredevil returned to Marvel Studios. Does that mean Kingpin is returning as well? It’s still not clear. It’s possible that Sony still owns the rights and hasn’t challenged Marvel on it. Or the rights may be in a shared position like Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Namor.
Scarlet Witch was fair game for Marvel as long as they didn’t mention mutants or their mutant father, Magneto. The MCU got around that by changing its origin to experimentation with the Mind Stone. The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver situation was resolved by Disney, which owns Marvel, buying Fox Studios and the licenses. So it appears that Kingpin is shared by Marvel and Sony. Marvel could use Kingpin as long as they didn’t mention Spider-Man and as long as it was on television, Sony didn’t feel a need to fight it. But Spider-Man was loaned out by Sony for the MCU. It looked like it was fair game to use Kingpin, but now Marvel’s relationship with Spider-Man is changing since Sony decided to stop Marvel from using him in the Marvel universe. So what now?
Based on the WikiLeaks documents of the Sony-Marvel contract, Kingpin and Jessica Drew are specifically named as being shared by Marvel because of the contract:
Non-Exclusive To SPE [Sony Pictures Entertainment]. SPE and Marvel share the following:
“Kingpin” and related characters listed on the attached Schedule 7B, but
SPE may not use any of these until after Fox’s production rights to
Daredevil expire. Marvel’s use of Kingpin is restricted to use in
connection with Daredevil and other characters with which he appeared
prior to 9/15/11.
“Jessica Drew” and specifically listed related characters. SPE may depict
Jessica Drew as Spider-Woman, and Marvel may only use her without any
Spider-Man-related elements.
Marvel and SPE must each notify the other of any intended use of these
shared characters.
So this means Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk, and by extension, Jessica Drew, are shared by both Sony and Marvel, and they can join the MCU as long as it’s related to Daredevil.
Why Kingpin Can’t Appear in MCU Movies (Yet)
Even though Kingpin is now part of the MCU, his film rights are still tied to Sony’s Spider-Man deal. Because of this, Marvel Studios can’t freely use him in theatrical releases without coordinating with Sony.
This is similar to how Spider-Man himself operates in the MCU—appearing only through special agreements between Marvel and Sony. Unless a similar deal is made specifically for Kingpin, his role will likely remain limited to Disney+ series and TV appearances.
In short, Kingpin exists in a shared rights gray area:
- Marvel can use him on TV
- Sony holds leverage in films
- Both studios must cooperate for major movie appearances
Can Kingpin Appear in Spider-Man Movies?
Yes—but only if Sony chooses to use him or collaborates with Marvel.
Because Kingpin originated in Spider-Man comics, Sony could theoretically include him in future Spider-Man-related films. However, this would depend on creative direction and any agreements with Marvel Studios.
Will Marvel Ever Fully Own Kingpin Again?
It’s possible—but not guaranteed.
Disney has previously regained full control of characters like the X-Men and Fantastic Four through acquisitions. However, Sony’s Spider-Man deal remains one of the most valuable agreements in Hollywood, making a full transfer of rights unlikely in the near future.
The most realistic outcome is continued shared usage, similar to the current Spider-Man arrangement.
FAQ: Kingpin Rights Explained
Can Kingpin appear in Marvel movies?
Not freely. His appearance would likely require a deal between Marvel and Sony.
Is Kingpin owned by Sony or Disney?
Both. Kingpin is a shared character with split usage rights.
Why is Kingpin only in TV shows?
Marvel has clearer rights for TV and streaming, while movie rights are restricted.
Is Kingpin a Spider-Man character?
Yes—he debuted in Spider-Man comics but later became a major Daredevil villain.
Final Thoughts
Kingpin’s complicated rights situation is a perfect example of how messy Marvel’s pre-MCU licensing deals still are. While fans can enjoy Wilson Fisk in the MCU series, his absence from major films highlights the ongoing divide between Marvel and Sony.
For now, Kingpin remains one of Marvel’s most powerful characters—stuck between two studios.
What do you think? Should Marvel and Sony team up to bring Kingpin into MCU movies? Let us know in the comments!
 | About the Author Maurice Mitchell has been a passionate science-fiction fan of movies, television, books, and comics since age five. He and his twin brother Nigel created the site “The Geek Twins” to share that passion. Maurice has written and created infographics for sites like The Geek Twins and About.com. His work has been featured on sites like Business Insider, io9, Slashfilm, and more. Read more of his posts | Follow him on Twitter @Mauricem1972 |
Do you think Marvel should use Kingpin in the MCU? Is there something we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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