Daredevil Kingpin casting and discussion thread

[Matt]

I'm gonna throw a left field choice out there. Kelsey Grammer. Hear me out....he may be a bit thin, but frankly, people who want a living personification of Wilson Fisk are just deluding themselves. You just are not going to find a viable actor who is in his mid to late 50s (or even 40s), who is also 6'6 and 300 lbs of pure muscle. It won't happen.

Plus Kingpin's physicality is not even his defining trait. Sure, physical intimidation is part of it, but it isn't what defines him. Tony Soprano could be physically intimidating when need be and he was short and flabby. You don't have to be a body builder to be physically intimidating. Kelsey Grammer could put on 30 pounds and a few prosthetics and look just fine in the role.

More importantly than looks however, he would nail it from an acting perspective. I don't know who watches the recently cancelled show Boss, but Grammer's portrayal of Tom Kane (mayor of Chicago) is essentially Wilson Fisk. Here's a censored clip:



Look at the power he exudes as he dresses down the governor of Illinois. It is exactly the type of power that Fisk ought to just radiate. Very few actors can simply exude power through their presence, Grammer is one of them. Plus, the resemblance isn't that far off if Grammer were to put on a little weight.

Say it with me, Kelsey Grammer for Kingpin!

 

[Eddie Dean]

Tossed salad and scrambled eggs...

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

I like Kelsey but he is perfect as Beast. That was the Marvel role he was born to play.

 

[Sawyer]

Ray Winstone or bust, you hear me? RAY WINSTONE OR BUST!

Seriously, if he's not cast, I walk.

[/fanboy bull**** talk]

 

[Matt]

I like Kelsey but he is perfect as Beast. That was the Marvel role he was born to play.

You're typecasting him. I did the same thing prior to watching Boss, but his range is much broader than Beast. Give Boss a watch. It was a really underrated show and he nails it. It is proof that he would make an outstanding Fisk.

Ray Winstone or bust, you hear me? RAY WINSTONE OR BUST!

Seriously, if he's not cast, I walk.

[/fanboy bull**** talk]

Winstone is more of the thug type, in my eyes. I don't think he can pull the sophistication or presence to be Kingpin. He is more the muscle type.

 

[jolldan]

I'm gonna throw a left field choice out there. Kelsey Grammer. Hear me out....he may be a bit thin, but frankly, people who want a living personification of Wilson Fisk are just deluding themselves. You just are not going to find a viable actor who is in his mid to late 50s (or even 40s), who is also 6'6 and 300 lbs of pure muscle. It won't happen.

Plus Kingpin's physicality is not even his defining trait. Sure, physical intimidation is part of it, but it isn't what defines him. Tony Soprano could be physically intimidating when need be and he was short and flabby. You don't have to be a body builder to be physically intimidating. Kelsey Grammer could put on 30 pounds and a few prosthetics and look just fine in the role.

More importantly than looks however, he would nail it from an acting perspective. I don't know who watches the recently cancelled show Boss, but Grammer's portrayal of Tom Kane (mayor of Chicago) is essentially Wilson Fisk. Here's a censored clip:



Look at the power he exudes as he dresses down the governor of Illinois. It is exactly the type of power that Fisk ought to just radiate. Very few actors can simply exude power through their presence, Grammer is one of them. Plus, the resemblance isn't that far off if Grammer were to put on a little weight.

Say it with me, Kelsey Grammer for Kingpin!

Like this
Kelsey is king he and Bryan Cranston should dook it out for rights to Kingpin

 

[Eddie Dean]

Brendan Gleeson, baby.

 

[Loki882]

Robbie Coltrane.

 

[H.U.S.T.L.E.]

I'm gonna throw a left field choice out there. Kelsey Grammer. Hear me out....he may be a bit thin, but frankly, people who want a living personification of Wilson Fisk are just deluding themselves. You just are not going to find a viable actor who is in his mid to late 50s (or even 40s), who is also 6'6 and 300 lbs of pure muscle. It won't happen.

I know it's probably a stereotyped casting, but Paul Wight (aka the WWE's Big Show) fits the physical attributes better than nearly anyone.

Even as a fan of the guy, I'm not sure if his personality & acting style fits for the Kingpin though - while he's certainly portrayed the hulking, menacing bad-guy convincingly in the wrestling world, his personality is much more affable and he's actually gifted in the area of physical comedy. He's had appearances on a number of USA shows like Psych, Burn Notice & Royal Pains, but he tends to play the gentle giant on those shows since that's much more in line with his real-life personality.

But for any action sequences involving the Kingpin? He'd be the guy you want due to his background in pro wrestling.

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

Gleeson and Coltrane are definitely good picks.

But I'm sorry, I DO NOT see Grammar as Kingpin.

 

[Spider-Fan83]

ok, for a slightly younger(lesser known), Fisk with more of a intimidating presence... what about, Keith Loneker





I remember suggesting him once way back, but, people said he was too young at the time, he's in his 40's now

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

That last photo of him isn't too bad. What else has he been in?

 

[Spider-Fan83]

he was in, out of sight, Leatherheads , Lakeview Terrace, he seems to have some smaller roles in up coming movies like, Jersey boys, and Bad a$$ 3

with some cameo roles in other movies here or there inbetween

 

[The Overlord]

I know it's probably a stereotyped casting, but Paul Wight (aka the WWE's Big Show) fits the physical attributes better than nearly anyone.

Even as a fan of the guy, I'm not sure if his personality & acting style fits for the Kingpin though - while he's certainly portrayed the hulking, menacing bad-guy convincingly in the wrestling world, his personality is much more affable and he's actually gifted in the area of physical comedy. He's had appearances on a number of USA shows like Psych, Burn Notice & Royal Pains, but he tends to play the gentle giant on those shows since that's much more in line with his real-life personality.

But for any action sequences involving the Kingpin? He'd be the guy you want due to his background in pro wrestling.

I don't think a wrestler can play a character like the Kingpin, you need someone who comes off as cunning, eloquent, subtle, commanding.

 

[Boom]

Pruitt Taylor Vince

/Thread

 

[Sawyer]

DJ Qualls. Because I want to bathe in nerd rage.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Pruitt Taylor Vince

/Thread

Kyle Gass?

 

[Silvermoth]

Winstone is more of the thug type, in my eyes. I don't think he can pull the sophistication or presence to be Kingpin. He is more the muscle type.

That might be interesting though. When I think about casting kingpin I always think about someone who was raised very violently and rose to the top by cutting people's faces and blackmail. He can live in the hoi Poli world but he always has this 'shark in a goldfish tank' feel about him

 

[TheHeatKitchen]

I don't want wrestlers in these movies and series'. I know we have Bautista in Guardians, and I'm personally not excited about it. Roughly 9/10 wrestlers can't act to the level required for big budget movies. The only real exception at this time is Dwayne Johnson.

 

[chamber-music]

Robbie Coltrane.

Good pick

 

[Rodrigo90]

David Morrissey if they can manage it

 

[Spider-Fan83]

Vincent D'Onofrio would be great but he already played Thor.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Kudos to whoever suggested Kelsey Grammer. Good choice.

My personal choice is Ron Perlman. Like someone already pointed out, you're going to be hard pressed to find a huge older actor who is both big and muscular who has actual acting chops. Michael Clarke Duncan was pretty much the closest thing we'll probably ever get to an actual comic book accurate Kingpin, size-wise. I like Perlman for the role because he has a good commanding presence. Whether it's in Hellboy or Pacific Rim, he's a very 'big' persona. He can also play cunning pretty well as seen in Sons of Anarchy. He's also got the height and stage tricks can be used to make him look bigger if they need too.

 

[Rorschach2012]

another excellent choice ^

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

I think Perlman would make a good J. Jonah Jameson but that's just me.