Hawkeye had a lot going on during its 2021 streaming run. The Disney+ series followed Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton as he helped Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop clean up a Christmas mess. While introducing those two new heroes was the main priority, there was someone else whose entrance into the MCU had major significance going forward: Maya Lopez, aka Echo.
Alaqua Cox's character was the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia, the gang of criminals who were after the titular heroes in all six episodes. However, her allegiance changed when Hawkeye brought to her attention how her uncle, Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin, was the one that ordered the hit on Echo's father.
The next step in her journey will be her own solo Disney+ series. The project just started filming a couple of weeks ago, and will hit the streaming service sometime in 2023.
While it's still a ways out, Marvel has now offered more cast and crew announcements for the show, alongside a new image of Cox's protagonist.
A New Look at Echo
Marvel has released a brand new image of the upcoming Marvel Studios show Echo, which stars Alaqua Cox in the titular role. This series will follow her character as her "ruthless behavior in New York City [during Hawkeye] catches up with her in her hometown."
The announcement also listed five other members of the cast who will appear alongside Cox:
"The origin story of Echo revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown. She must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward. Echo also stars Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s Reservation Dogs, American Gods) and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind), with Graham Greene (1883, Goliath) and Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs)."
Alongside the synopsis, it was announced that the series will be directed by Sydney Freeland and Catriona McKenzie:
"Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Stephen Broussard, Richie Palmer, Marion Dayre, and Jason Gavin (Blackfeet). Co-executive producers are Amy Rardin, Sydney Freeland, Christina King (Seminole), and Jennifer Booth."
Echo Will Return in Solo Series
It's great to have an official photo from Alaqua Cox's spinoff show, but it doesn't really give much more information than fans had a day ago. At the very least, audiences now know Cox's hometown has a dumpster in it.
So what will the titular character be dealing with this time around? Well, the odds point to it being her uncle, the Kingpin. The last time viewers saw him, he had been shot off screen—though, the number one rule of storytelling is: if you don't see the body, they aren't dead. The same goes for here - he'll be back.
There are also countless whispers of how Maya Lopez will be joined by the fan-favorite superhero Daredevil. Played by Charlie Cox, he most recently returned in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Fans have been dying to see him again since—though, thankfully, they might see him even sooner if those She-Hulk rumors are true.
Echo will premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2023.
