What Kingpin’s return in Hawkeye episode 5 means for Marvel’s future

Season one of Hawkeye has introduced numerous Marvel Comics characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time — from Kate Bishop to Echo to Moira Brandon — and brought back some who’ve already gotten a foothold in the movie universe — like Yelena Belova.

This week, the episode’s final moments gave us one more continuity surprise, revealing less about the future of HawkeyeFind out more about Marvel Studios’ future plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Hawkeye episode 5, “Ronin.”]

Marvel Studios/Disney

You can watch a couple of episodes right now Hawkeye has been teasing the reveal of Echo and Kazi’s boss, the will behind the Tracksuit Mafia’s takedown of the high-society auction Kate discovered in the first episode. “Ronin” provided two shockers: The Tracksuit Mafia reports to Kate’s mother, Eleanor Bishop, and Eleanor Bishop reports to none other than Wilson “The Kingpin” Fisk. Hawkeye’s Fisk is played, as he was in Netflix’s Daredevil series, by Vincent D’Onofrio — and that might be the real shocker.

Even though Netflix’s Marvel television shows (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron FistAnd The PunisherWhen Marvel Television and Netflix partnered to bring them to life in 2013, they were meant to become a part the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, their presence has always felt secluded. They have been a bit obscure in modern MCU.

In late 2018, Disney announced plans to bring Disney Plus to subscribers in late 2019, and not too long after, Marvel Entertainment underwent a restructuring that moved its Marvel Television devision under the umbrella of the company’s movie division, Marvel Studios. Marvel TV vice president and Netflix-Marvel-shows-spearheader Jeph Loeb exited the company and over the course of 2019 Netflix announced the cancelation of every one of its Marvel Cinematic Universe shows.

Since then, fans haven’t heard a peep of news about the future of any of the Marvel Netflix characters within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even as Disney has announced multiple waves of new Marvel TV series for Disney Plus.

Vincent D’Onofrio’s return to play Kingpin in HawkeyeIt’s a surprise, but it raises the question of: Can we expect any other Netflix show to be able to reprise their roles? Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that, if Marvel wanted to make any changes with Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Charlie Cox would be the one. Charlie Cox portrayed Matt in Marvel Studios. DaredevilNetflix shows, I would certainly return.

Cox’s return to Marvel productions has been widely rumored for months, from unsubstantiated leaks to fans who began comparing Cox’s arm hair with an arm that came into view in a Spider-Man, There’s No Way Home trailer, and this week’s HawkeyeThose hopes will be fueled by the next episode. The show makes reference to Spider-Man, There’s No Way Home in this week’s episode.

In listing the sightseeing she wants to do in New York, Yelena mentions the “new and improved Statue of Liberty” — a set piece already seen in trailers for Spider-Man, There’s No Way Home. Spider-Man, There’s No Way HomeOn December 17, 2017, the movie will be in theatres. Everything is interconnected, as is Marvel’s way.

Hawkeye

These prices were correct at the time of publication.

Disney Plus will air the series on November 24th