“We want this show to be Different”: Vincent D’Onofrio Reacts to Daredevil: Born Again’s most Violent Scene yet

After years of Marvel playing it relatively safe, Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again tears through that boundary with a finale that delivers one of the most graphically violent moments in MCU history — a brutal execution that has left fans stunned and Vincent D’Onofrio excited. 

As Wilson Fisk solidifies his grip on a martial law–ruled New York City, he smashes Commissioner Gallo’s head with his bare hands in front of his own task force, creating a moment so intense it rivals — and perhaps even surpasses — the infamous car door kill from Netflix’s original Daredevil.

In an interview, D’Onofrio broke down the gory sequence, its impact on the story, and how the creative team worked to ensure Born Again would feel fresh, bold, and uniquely disturbing. Meanwhile, over on Reddit, fans didn’t hold back their shock, comparing the scene to moments from The Boys and Invincible. Here’s a look at what D’Onofrio had to say — and how the internet reacted.

“It’s Pretty Brutal”: Vincent D’Onofrio Breaks down the Commissioner Gallo Scene

Vincent D’Onofrio, who brought a chilling presence to Kingpin in Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again, said his first reaction to reading the head-smash scene in the finale was all about execution — literally and cinematically.

“To be honest, my first reaction was, how are we going to do it? How are we going to make it different than other scenes that I’ve done?... We figured it out: We did do something that feels different than what people have seen before when it comes to stuff like that. It’s pretty brutal. It’s kind of cr*zy as an actor to have to talk about things like that, but we want this show to be different.” D’Onofrio revealed to Variety.

With New York under lockdown and the police force acting as Fisk’s personal army, the public execution of Commissioner Gallo (Michael Gaston) was more than just an act of violence — it was a display of total dominance. D’Onofrio explained that while the act was seen by Fisk’s inner circle, the outside world wouldn’t know.

“The killing of Commissioner Gallo is done in front of his task force, so he wants them to be as nasty as he is. Nobody has seen that killing, and it will, I’m sure, eventually be covered up,” D’Onofrio explained. Kingpin’s ambitions go far beyond controlling one city. While he may not aim for the Oval Office, D’Onofrio suggests Fisk has a bigger agenda than anyone expects.

“His grand plan is martial law, and while he can hold the city in martial law, to complete as many crimes as he can and get rid of the vigilantes... I would say bigger plans than just New York City, but first New York,” D’Onofrio said.

When asked about the chilling moment where Fisk turns to the camera and says, “I love New York,” D’Onofrio says it’s a declaration of ownership.

“He considers the city his... Even though not everybody believes the same thing he does, he believes it. He really, truly believes that New York is his city,” D’Onofrio added.

“Jesus F***”: Reddit Reacts to one of the MCU’s most Shocking Deaths

Redditors were quick to flood threads with raw reactions to Commissioner Gallo’s gruesome fate in Marvel's Daredevil: Born Again finale, with many comparing the intensity to R-rated antihero shows.

“The scene with the commissioner was straight out of a Friday the 13th film. Jesus f***,” one user said.

Another user replied to the above comment, “Absolutely wild, as soon as I saw the plastic tarps I knew we were in for a brutal death.”

Some fans expected brutality — but not this much.

One Reddit user commented, “I thought he was just going to crush his head or severely fracture his skull, but somehow they made it 10x worse. Fisk is out there degloving guys' heads lmao.”

One theory even suggested that Fisk’s terrifying strength might have a superhuman origin. “Chalk it up as another point of evidence towards my theory that Fisk got juiced by some serum from the Power Broker,” wrote one user.

Another user chimed in: “Nah. Considering how Matt fights now and how he's literally casually tossing people around and breaking bones with minimal effort too. Everyone’s 'stronger' now.”

Some compared it to Prime Video’s violent superhero hits. One user commented, “That felt like some Homelander sh** ngl.” Another fan replied to this comment, “Omni-Man on the Guardians as well. Just wild.”

And of course, the internet found humor in the horror. One Reddit user commented,  “Hey guys I’m Commissioner Gallo’s new publicist! I’m super happy to be here and I’m looking forward to a long and happy career! AMA. Edit: Never mind.”

Whether viewers found it shocking, disgusting, or masterfully intense, one thing is certain: Daredevil: Born Again isn’t holding back — and with Punisher now free, the second season may get even darker.

All the episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season one are streaming on Disney+. Check out the recaps of Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, and Episode 9.