Vincent D’Onofrio, widely known for his iconic portrayal of Kingpin in the MCU, has openly expressed his desire to take on a role in the DC Universe. The actor revealed that he is particularly interested in portraying Swamp Thing in James Gunn’s upcoming DC projects.
Kingpin Actor Vincent D’Onofrio Considers Swamp Thing Role
During an interaction on X (formerly Twitter), a fan asked,
“Should Vincent D’Onofrio Play Swamp Thing In James Gunn’s #DCU?”
D’Onofrio responded clearly:
“Yes, he should.”
He also elaborated on the challenges and appeal of the role:
“It would be fun figuring it all out. Deeper than that is the psychological brokenness inside him. It would be an intense role. The kind I like.”
D’Onofrio acknowledged that logistics could be tricky, given his ongoing commitments to Marvel projects. Nevertheless, his interest highlights the potential for major crossover excitement between Marvel and DC talent.
Swamp Thing in James Gunn’s DC Universe
The Swamp Thing film is part of DC’s Gods and Monsters chapter and is currently in early development, directed by James Mangold, known for Logan. While concrete details are scarce, James Gunn mentioned in a July 2025 interview with Josh Horowitz:
“We talked to James (Mangold) the other day. No, he hasn’t delivered a script. He’s been distracted by his billions of movies [Laughs]. But I think… We’re talking about it again, so…”
Mangold also shared his creative vision for the project earlier in January with MovieWeb, stating:
“With other kinds of IP, it gets to a religious level. While I’m sure DC views Swamp Thing as a franchise, I would be viewing it as a very simple, clean, Gothic horror movie about this man/monster.”
This suggests that rather than a franchise-focused blockbuster, the Swamp Thing movie will embrace a more Gothic horror style, emphasizing character depth and atmosphere.
Why Kingpin Could Be Perfect for Swamp Thing
Vincent D’Onofrio’s ability to portray complex, morally gray characters, therefore, makes him a strong candidate for Swamp Thing. Moreover, the psychological intensity he brings to Kingpin could naturally translate effectively into the darker, Gothic horror tone of the upcoming DC film. Consequently, fans are already speculating that D’Onofrio’s casting would elevate the character’s portrayal and additionally add a compelling dimension to the DC Universe.
Although no official casting announcements or release dates have been confirmed, D’Onofrio’s interest has nonetheless sparked excitement across both Marvel and DC fan communities. Furthermore, with James Gunn overseeing the DC Universe’s development and Mangold’s unique vision in place, Swamp Thing is rapidly becoming one of the most anticipated projects in the new DC lineup.
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Ambily Sajan 
Shobith Chandran