Echo will have a huge impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so we are thrilled that the series will finally grace the small screens this January 2024. Here is everything you need to know about Marvel's Echo series' release date, cast updates, plot theories, and more!
Echo joins the superheroes over at the Marvel Cinematic Universe as she stars in her series that is part of Phase 4, along with other new supers who graced the small screen, like Moon Knight.
Marvel’s Echo Release Date: When Will the Show Come Out?
During the San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Marvel announced a narrowed release window for the series, confirming that it will come out by Summer 2023.
On May 17, 2023, Marvel formally announced the release date of the series to November 29, 2023. The announcement also came with the release date for Loki's second season.
It was only confirmed today, on November 4th, that Marvel's Echo will be released on January 10th, 2024 on Disney Plus.
Take note that Loki Season 2 only has one episode left to air on November 9th, which could explain why Marvel decided to drop the official trailer for Echo today.
How Many Episodes Will Echo have?
Marvel's Echo series will reportedly have five episodes, all of which will be available to stream on its premiere date, unlike the previous Marvel series which followed a more traditional release strategy.
Of course, as many previous MCU movies and series go through, Echo will be streaming on Disney Plus on its premiere.
It is also worth mentioning that the rating Marvel gave for the Echo series is similar to that of Daredevil, which is TV-MA.
This means that TV-MA-rated movies and series are not appropriate and can be disturbing for children who are under the age of 17.
Marvel’s Echo Cast: Who are the Actors Included in the Disney Plus Series?
Alaqua Cox, the actress who played Maya/Echo in the Hawkeye series, will return as the titular character in her spinoff series.
In the original comic books, Maya is a Native American who also happens to be both. Cox is both a Native American and a member of the Deaf community, which means she fits the role perfectly.
Alaqua is of Mohican and Menominee descent and says she did not have any previous experience acting professionally.
Before being cast in her first series, she said she only took part in a school play once, and she was in the background.
Alaqua’s portrayal of Maya brings another additional departure from the comic books because she has a below-the-knee prosthetic leg.
This gives Alaqua a distinct fighting style in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that we don’t see in the comics.
Some fans hope to see Kate Bishop and Clint Barton in the Echo series, while others speculate that Daredevil may also play a big part in the show, though there are no other confirmations about the rest of the cast yet.
The other confirmed cast members are are follows:
- Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin
- Zahn McClarnon as William Lopez, Maya's father and Kingpin
- Devery Jacobs as Julie, a member of Maya's indigenous family
- Chaske Spencer as Jace Montero
- Tantoo Cardinal as a member of the Cree heritage
- Cody Lightning as a member of the Cree heritage
- Graham Greene as TBC
An Instagram post from Atlanta Filming showed Vincent D’Onofrio on set as Kingpin. In the photos, he is noticeably not wearing an eyepatch, so it is safe to assume that the scenes he was taking are flashbacks.
Marvel’s Echo Crew: Who are the Creatives Behind the Scenes?
Marvel’s Echo is directed by Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie with Marion Dayre as the head writer.
Executive producers for Marvel's Echo include Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Stephen Broussard, Richie Palmer, Marion Dayre, and Jason Gavin.
Amy Rardin, Sydney Freeland, Christina King, and Jennifer Booth are co-executive producers on the show.
In a previous interview with Collider, Broussard described the Echo series as:
"I don't want to say too much because there's not a whole lot out there in the world, but it feels very grounded, it feels very spiritual in ways that feel fresh for us. Alaqua as the lead is incredibly compelling. I'm sort of hard-pressed to think of something that it feels like outside in the broader realm of the MCU, let alone within what we've done here. So stay tuned on that really cool stuff."
Marvel’s Echo Plot: What Will Be the Plot of the Series?
Echo is a Hawkeye spinoff, as we were introduced to Echo’s character when she was the main antagonist against Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner).
The first series may tell the origin story of Echo in the MCU. We may learn the story of Maya Lopez before we meet her in Hawkeye.
This series may help us understand how she became the villain in Hawkeye and how she became as great in martial arts as she is.
Marvel's Echo Story Had a Different Turn of Events
In the comic books, Echo came in as the primary villain for Daredevil. Her alter ego, Maya Lopez, was raised by Kingpin after the gang leader promised to take care of her before killing her father.
Under Kingpin’s wing, Maya uses her innate gifts for martial arts to go after Daredevil, whom she blames for the death of her father after being misled by Kingpin.
Maya first met Matt Murdock, not knowing that he was Daredevil. They began dating, and things were getting serious until Maya finally caught Daredevil and found out the truth about Murdock.
She doesn’t kill him and instead shoots the Kingpin. Maya then flees to escape, returning years later to find that the Kingpin survives and that Murdock has moved on without her.
May and the Kingpin reconcile, and she leaves again to find herself and her true purpose. She eventually meets Wolverine, who teaches her about the Hand, an evil ninja group.
Maya takes on the identity of Ronin and makes it her new life mission to eradicate the Hand.
We can see how Echo’s origin story was written into Hawkeye’s story. In the Endgame, we see Hawkeye as the Ronin during the snap. This detail also comes into play in the Hawkeye series because we know that Maya still blames Hawkeye (aka the Ronin in the series) for the death of her father.
Marvel’s Echo Trailer: Is There a Trailer for the Echo Series?
On the brink of Loki Season 2 coming to an end with one last episode next week, Marvel released the official trailer for the Echo series, which you can watch fully below:
Echo in D23 Expo 2022
The D23 Expo 2022 included a presentation for Marvel's Echo. The panel for the presentation included the main cast members, like lead star Alaqua Cox, who appeared alongside Marvel Studio President Kevin Feige.
The Echo panel also previewed the first exclusive trailer for the series. Though the trailer was not yet publicly released, it reportedly showed Vincent D’Onofrio’s King Pin returning.
Where to Watch Marvel’s Echo: Where Can I Watch the Series?
You can watch Marvel’s Echo in Disney Plus once the series releases on January 10, 2024.
Echo is a hallmark show for Marvel, as they take a step towards inclusivity and representation. Echo may not be the first deaf superhero (she comes after Makkari in the Eternals), but her series may reach more people who look like her and want to see more superheroes who look like them.