James Gunn's and Peter Safran's new DCU looks to erase the past of the DCEU and establish a brand-new continuity. A part of this includes introducing a new iteration of Batman and Superman as well as reintegrating classic characters from worlds previously unexplored. A great example of this is Swamp Thing, who will return to theaters and be a part of the DCU's first chapter titled Gods and Monsters. While the character hasn't been cast yet, the best choice for the role may lie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most famous villain, the Kingpin played by Vincent D'Onofrio.
In the MCU and its Netflix offshoot series, Daredevil, Wilson Fisk was a unique villain that, for most of the series, saw himself as a hero to the city as well as those he cared for. Of course, he was anything but as he was a cold-hearted killer who used intimidation and manipulation to get his way. While his actions were villainous, his core represented something more akin to Swamp Thing. Given the opportunity, it could be the key to actor Vincent D'Onofrio to bring the character to life.
Kingpin and Swamp Thing Aren't That Different
In Daredevil, Wilson Fisk was just as much a tragic character as he was a dangerous villain. While his actions were unforgivable, they came from a place of longing. In Fisk's case, he longed for a life he never got to have and to have someone to share that life with. This was why Fisk eventually married Vanessa. Everything he did to and for New York City stemmed from the life he had under the thumb of his abusive father. Because of the trauma he experienced as a boy, he used his strength and influence to hide that vulnerability. In reality, Fisk was a man that was just as scared as anyone else but had a greater conviction to commit the crimes he had to avoid reliving what he had in the past.
Comparatively, Swamp Thing was an equally tragic being born from loss and existential crisis. At first, it was believed Swamp Thing was once a man that was turned into a monster, longing to become a human once again. However, on his journey to normalcy in Alan Moore's iconic Swamp Thing run, the titular character learned he was never human. Instead, he was the flora and fauna around the man that was Alec Holland, and borrowed his memories upon death, creating a humanoid avatar of The Green. Like Fisk, Swamp Thing longed for a better life but more often than not he was scared and unsure of what was next. But what separated them was that the latter leaned to the side of protecting more than Fisk.
Vincent D'Onofrio Has the Perfect Traits To Portray Swamp Thing
Vincent D'Onofrio has spent decades growing in his skills and understanding the motivations of various characters that set them apart from others. As a result, audiences can see the stress and rigors of military life affect a character like Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket or the silent rage of Wilson Fisk in Daredevil. It's because of this, D'Onofrio can portray a truly pained version of Swamp Thing that's forced to endure the loss of a humanity he never had. But most importantly, D'Onofrio can balance that tragedy with the push to do the right thing with the hand the character is dealt.
Swamp Thing isn't the most expected choice for an actor like Vincent D'Onofrio to bring to life. However, if Kingpin has proven anything, it's that he's the best choice both in skill and stature to bring the hero to life. Even in his voice audiences could see the pain in Wilson Fisk even at his worst and that same pain could pull at the heartstrings of those watching Swamp Thing explore his new and tragic life. In the end, there may be other names that could bring Swamp Thing to life, but Vincent D'Onofrio could be an exceptional choice to bring the character to the big screen.