Hawkeye's Hailee Steinfeld Confirms What We Always Suspected About Vincent D'Onofrio's On-Screen Presence
Marvel Cinematic Universe fans went wild when the Disney+ series "Hawkeye" introduced a major villain from the Netflix series "Daredevil." Vincent D'Onofrio played the fearsome Kingpin to perfection in that show. The sheer physicality of his performance and the way he lumbered above everyone around him signaled the volatile menace he represented. But in case anyone needed more convincing, he slammed a guy's head in a car door until it turned to pulp in one unforgettable moment.
While not all of the Marvel/Netflix shows are MCU canon, "Daredevil" appears to be, as D'Onofrio's Kingpin was revealed to be the main villain of "Hawkeye" in this week's episode, meaning that Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) will no doubt be tasked with bringing him down once more in the Season 1 finale.
In a new interview, Steinfeld dished on what it's like to work with D'Onofrio as an actor, as well as what her character feels about the new threat.
'If it didn't feel real before, it's real now,' says Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld says that Vincent D'Onofrio's screen presence is about as intimidating as you'd imagine. Part of what made Kingpin so terrifying in "Daredevil" was his somewhat reserved mannerisms. His speech, though quiet and often gentle, always contains a chilling sliver of malice, as though he is holding back his rage. "It's a very different experience standing underneath Vincent and hearing him," she said, via Entertainment Weekly. "To be in his presence is really something."
Steinfeld also explained how her character, Kate Bishop, feels about the new threat. Since Kate practically worships Hawkeye, Steinfeld believes his judgment is enough to let her know how serious things are. "She knows everything she needs to know when she hears Clint say 'this is the guy I've been worried about the whole time.' That right there is enough for her to need to come to her senses and figure out how to handle the situation," she continued.
Marvel is clearly grooming Kate Bishop into a replacement for Hawkeye as Jeremy Renner moves on from the role, and facing Kingpin will be the true test of her strength. "If it didn't feel real before, it's real now," Steinfeld said. "After all the partner talk and jokes that have been thrown around, now she has the opportunity to step up to the plate."