Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producer Chris Miller shares his inspiration for the movie’s version of Kingpin. Frequently cited as the best Spider-Man movie ever made, and one of the best films of the 2010s in general, Into the Spider-Verse is primarily credited for popularizing the universality of Spider-Man’s central themes. Peter Parker was a part of the Academy Award-winning animated film, albeit in a supporting capacity, with the focus shifted to Miles Morales. The inclusions of Gwen Stacy, Peni Parker, and even Peter Porker brought a myriad of Spider-Man characters into one film. Though humorous on its face, the bevy of protagonists served to highlight the point that anyone could be a hero so long as they were willing to persevere and fight for what’s right.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Though discussed less frequently, Into the Spider-Verse took a similar approach with its villains. It showed that, with nefarious intent, anyone is capable of being a criminal mastermind. This is most notable in its depiction of Doctor Octopus, who was presented as a woman voiced by Kathryn Hahn. It was also evident in how the film portrayed Kingpin as utterly evil, despite the sympathetic backstory of losing his family. Created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., with the real name of Wilson Fisk, Kingpin first made his first comic book appearance in 1967. He’s since been portrayed by John Rhys-Davies, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Vincent D’Onofrio.

Liev Schreiber voices Kingpin for Into the Spider-Verse, serving as the movie’s main villain. The character has proved very memorable, appropriately intimidating, and ruthless. Into the Spider-Verse producer, Chris Miller shed some light on the comic book insights for the character in a recent post on his Twitter account, noting that it was Bill Sienkiewicz’s work with Kingpin that helped inspire Into the Spider-Verse’s iteration of Kingpin. Miller added that he included an homage to Sienkiewicz’s style in the film. Check out the tweet below.

The flashback that Miller mentions has an oil painting quality in parts of it, which is an approach that Sienkiewicz is known for favoring. The flashback captures Kingpin’s heartbreak at the loss of his loved ones, tapping into the reasons that the character turned completely to the dark side, and the use of one of Sienkiewicz’s trademarks helps to reflect that.

See also  12 Movie Franchises That Were Canceled Before Their Final Chapter

Into the Spider-Verse is filled with references, some serving as playful winks to a knowing audience while others work on a deeper level. The nod to Kingpin’s comic book roots fits into the latter category, painting a sad portrait of a malicious crime lord. It’s the combination of beautiful artistry and smart writing that has made Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse an instant classic.

Source: Chris Miller / Twitter

Surprising MCU Graph Reveals Which Marvel Heroes Got The Most Screen Time

About The Author


Abdullah Al-Ghamdi
(1121 Articles Published)

Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019, focusing on movie and television news. In January of the same year, he wrote a 3500+ word piece on why Primo Colón is underrated. He considers it his finest work. When he’s not arguing for the merits of his favorite wrestler, he can be reached at: [email protected].

More From Abdullah Al-Ghamdi