The season finale of Hawkeye saw Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin make a huge impact, though there has been a lot of backlash online after his apparent demise at the hands of Maya Lopez. Comic book fans will know that this version of Wilson Fisk survived being gunned down by Echo (losing his eyesight in the process), but it's unclear what direction Marvel Studios plans to take things in.
However, if a report from The Cosmic Circus is to be believed, there was a very different plan in place for Kingpin. Apparently, the season finale originally included a post-credits scene with Fisk receiving Ronin's sword and a message from Clint Barton warning the villain to stay away from both his and Kate Bishop's families.
The reason for the change is obvious after what happened when Fisk crossed paths with Maya in that alleyway, and it sounds like reshoots actually added Kingpin to the final battle.
What the future holds in store for Kingpin remains to be seen, but it's baffling to think Marvel Studios would do such a great job bringing him into the MCU only to end the villain's story so prematurely. Perhaps if Maya attempts to take over Fisk's criminal empire, she'll find herself fending off his attempts to regain his status as Kingpin and a certain Man Without Fear's interventions?
Hopefully, someone involved with the series will address Kingpin's future at some point because, for many fans, the ambiguity surrounding his fate has soured an otherwise excellent finale.
Keep checking back here for updates!