Is Kingpin In Hawkeye Episode 5? Who Plays The MCU Villain?

Warning: SPOILERS for Hawkeye episode 5.

Disney+'s Hawkeye has dropped several hints about Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin, and episode 5 finally confirms the character's surprise Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance. Throughout Hawkeye, the Disney+ series has hinted at Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk/Kingpin pulling strings behind the scenes. For example, in a Hawkeye episode 3 flashback to Maya Lopez's (Alaqua Cox) childhood, a large, suit-wearing individual stands just out of the camera's view and pinches Maya's cheek. This mystery person is even above Maya in the Tracksuit Mafia hierarchy, and she knows him as "Uncle." Hawkeye episode 4 leaned even more into the idea that Kingpin is involved in the story, with Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton discovering that Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton) is supposedly laundering money for a mysterious "big guy" at the top of the Tracksuit Mafia.

Despite the hints, it's clear that the mystery figure in Hawkeye is different from Vincent D'Onofrio's previous version of Kingpin. Wilson Fisk/Kingpin is a public figure in Netflix's now-canceled Daredevil. He appears at press conferences, spouts off at the media, and manipulates the authorities into helping him secure power. But Hawkeye paints its mystery figure as working in the shadows and coming into power undetected. This crime boss hates the limelight. In Hawkeye episode 4, Clint Barton even says that the mystery villain doesn't like a lot of attention.

The clues all pointed to a big Kingpin reveal on the way and the very end of Hawkeye episode 5 revealed D'Onofrio's long-awaited but still very surprising return to the MCU. A previous insider report had claimed Hawkeye episode 5 would "blow up" Twitter, and Kingpin's very brief appearance captured on mobile phone footage along with Kate Bishop's mother Eleanor delivers on that promise. It fits with the Disney+ trope of often including significant moments in the fifth episode of its shows. For example, in Loki, Tom Hiddleston's Loki and Sophia Di Martino's Lady Loki finally make it to the Citadel at the End of Time, and WandaVision episode 5 shows Evan Peters' Pietro/Ralph Bohner making his debut. Season 1 of The Mandalorian also had a significant reveal, with Boba Fett first appearing in episode 5. With Hawkeye episode 5, Kingpin delivered the same magic moment.

Kate sees a picture of her mother with Kingpin in Hawkeye.

Who Plays Kingpin In Hawkeye?

Vincent D'Onofrio returns as Kingpin in Hawkeye episode 5, having played the iconic MCU villain in Netflix's Daredevil show opposite Charlie Cox. Since the end of that show, D'Onofrio has teased his desire to return to the MCU to play Wilson Fisk. In Marvel's comics, Kingpin's story strongly ties to Maya Lopez's, and the reveal that he is her "Uncle" on Hawkeye sets up that dynamic once more. In that respect, while the finale will wrap up Clint Barton's story in the MCU (barring a surprise second season or his return in Echo) Hawkeye episode 5 has now become the show's most important so far for setting up what follows.

In addition to reports that episode 5 would blow up Twitter, the creators behind Hawkeye have also talked up episode 5. In an interview with Screen Rant, British directing duo Bert and Bertie, a.k.a. Amber Finlayson and Katie Ellwood, said fans wouldn't be disappointed. The pair also noted that the episode could have a tonal shift. Likewise, Fra Fee, who plays Tracksuit Mafia member Kazi, told Screen Rant that the final two episodes would "blow your socks off." The actor teased "huge ramifications" for the MCU and said, "It's all been leading to this." Quite what Kingpin's return means for the finale and D'Onofrio's future appearances in the MCU is unclear at this point, but Echo's own Disney+ show will now presumably include Kingpin in a big way.

More: Hawkeye Already Confirmed How Powerful Kingpin Will Be

Hawkeye releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.