Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel TV

  • ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Star Provides Promising Update on the Show’s New Direction

    ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Star Provides Promising Update on the Show’s New Direction

    No project generated more buzz during SDCC ’22 than Daredevil: Born Again. Originally intended to stream on Disney Plus in Spring 2024, production on the series got underway in early 2023 but was paused in June amid the WGA strike. Marvel Studios used that break to evaluate what they had filmed for the series so far and decided the series needed a creative restructuring. By October 2023, Dario Scardapane (The Punisher) had been brought in as showrunner and the directing duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Moon Knight, Loki Season 2) were handed the reigns and tasked both with salvaging what they could from the work that had been done and plotting a new course for the project. As 2024 gets underway, it looks as though production on the project is set to resume soon and fans are starting to become more curious about just what the new direction of the series will be.

    Daredevil: Born Again will see Daredevil stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio back in action as Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, respectively. D’Onofrio also has a major role in Marvel Studios’ next streaming project, Echo. During an interview with Collider about his role in that series, D’Onofrio provided a very promising update about the new direction Daredevil: Born Again is headed under the direction of Scardapane, Benson and Moorhead.

    “We’re having a really good time right now. We’re getting back up. We’re gonna start soon, hopefully sooner than later, and Charlie and I feel like the right vibe is there,” D’Onofrio told Collider. With so much negativity surrounding the MCU right now, fans are hopeful that the time taken to restructure Daredevil: Born Again pays off. After all, Daredevil is one of Marvel’s cornerstone characters and rumors have the series paving the way for the character to play a major role in Spider-Man 4 where he and the Wall-Crawler team up to take on Kingpin in what’s being called a “street-level Civil War.” Whether or not that turns out to be the case, D’Onofrio is convinced that the series is in good hands with the new creative team.

    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel Studios’ ECHO, releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

    I think all the powers out there that control this whole creative world of the MCU, also believe that we’re in the right place right now… I have to say, it’s luck, really. I mean, my favorite series so far have been Moon Knight and Loki, and we’ve got those guys as directors, and so that’s pretty lucky. And we’ve got Dario, who’s an incredible writer who wrote The Punisher. We’re in a very happy place right now

    -Vincent D’Onofrio

    With the series set to resume production soon, there’s still hope that Daredevil: Born Again will debut on Disney Plus early in 2025. And, if D’Onofrio is right and the new creatives are heading down the right path, it could be one of the studio’s best projects yet.

    In Daredevil: Born Again, “longtime rivals Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) try to leave behind their darker alter-egos to serve the people of New York only to have their pasts catch up to them.“

    Source: Collider

  • Sydney Freeland on the Importance of Maya Lopez’s Past in ‘Echo’

    Sydney Freeland on the Importance of Maya Lopez’s Past in ‘Echo’

    Marvel’s upcoming streaming series, Echo, represents a new type of project for the studio. Not only is it the first TV-MA project, but it’s also the first to roll out under the new Marvel Spotlight banner. According to the studios, Marvel Spotlight projects will bring “more grounded, character-driven stories to the screen” that “focus on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity.” Essentially, while the projects may involve familiar MCU characters (indeed Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk has a prominent role in Echo and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil does appear), the stories told within them are self-contained. “Viewers don’t have to watch any other Marvel series to understand the plot,” which means everything needed to completely enjoy Echo will be seen in Echo. And according to director Sydney Freeland, that means a heavy dose of lead character Maya Lopez’s past.

    During a global press event before the premiere of Echo, Freeland talked about the unique opportunity to further explore Lopez, who debuted in the 2021 streaming series Hawkeye. “One of the most interesting aspects about the character,” began Freeland, “is the fact that she’s a villain in Hawkeye, right? But then within that, once you start, sort of, pulling in that thread, then you look at where she comes from, right? And you look at, “Oh, this is a deaf, indigenous amputee girl from Oklahoma,” said the director. “‘How the hell does she end up being one of the top-ranking lieutenants in Kingpin’s army?’ And answering those questions was such an exciting place to be.”

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ Echo, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    For Maya, following the events of the Hawkeye season finale, that means finding her way back to Oklahoma to a family she hasn’t seen in years. And as is traditional wisdom, once you leave, you can’t go home again. “Well, what is that like when she goes back home? You know?,” asked Freeland. “And I think for, you know, just for myself and you know, being indigenous, being an American, it was such a fun and exciting place to be. And then once you layer on the Choctaw cultural specifics onto that, it gave us a chance to tell a really fun story, you know? I think one example of that is actually in the second episode of our series.“

    As the show’s promotional footage has revealed, Maya’s troubles with Kingin will follow her home. Freeland seems to indicate that the series will explore the path Maya took from Oklahoma to NYC. It’ll be interesting to see what connections to the Kingpin took her away from home and what the consequences will be when she returns.

    All 5 episodes of Echo will stream on Hulu and Disney Plus beginning at 9 PM EST on January 9th.

  • ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Star Provides a Very Encouraging Update on the Status of the Show’s Production Timeline

    ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Star Provides a Very Encouraging Update on the Status of the Show’s Production Timeline

    Marvel Studios ambitious 18-episode streaming series, Daredevil: Born Again, began production in New York City in early 2023. Quite a few episodes of the series, which stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, were filmed before the WGA strike forced a shutdown in June. As that strike went on and the SAG strike began, Marvel Studios took a look at what they had put together for the series and decided that the series was in need of a major creative overhaul. Writers Matt Corman and Chris Ord left the show and were replaced by showrunner Dario Scardapane (The Punisher). Moon Knight and Loki Season 2 directors, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, were brought on to determine what was salvageable from the episodes that had been filmed and to take the lead for the rest of the series. With so much going on behind the scenes, production was unable to resume when the dual strikes found resolution; however, according to D’Onofrio, cameras are set to roll soon!

    While promoting the upcoming Disney Plus series Echo, which debuts on Hulu and Disney Plus on January 9th, D’Onofrio indicated that a restart of production was right around the corner. According to the star, Daredevil: Born Again will resume filming “not long from now… in a few weeks, in fact.” That information is consistent with the information we heard and shared here:

    Even though Moorhead indicated that he and Benson were on “day zero” in November, it’s likely that some portion of the footage that was filmed last year will make its way into the series. With that in mind, it is still entirely possible that the first nine episodes of the series will be ready to roll out by January 2025, which was in the cards at one point in time.

    Daredevil: Born Again will see “longtime rivals Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) try to leave behind their darker alter-egos to serve the people of New York only to have their pasts catch up to them.“

    Source: Comic Book Central

  • Vincent D’Onofrio Compares Wilson Fisk’s ‘Echo’ Appearance to ‘Daredevil’

    Vincent D’Onofrio Compares Wilson Fisk’s ‘Echo’ Appearance to ‘Daredevil’

    After meeting what appeared to be a grisly end in the season finale of Marvel Studios’ 2021 Disney Plus streaming series, Hawkeye, Wilson Fisk is back in the studio’s newest series, Echo. Vincent D’Onofrio, who first portrayed the Kingpin of crime in 2015 in the Netflix streaming series Daredevil, returns once again as Fisk and, as has been teased in the trailers for Echo, will have some serious catching up to do with Alaqua Cox‘s Maya Lopez.

    Debuting simultaneously on Hulu and D+, Echo is the first TV-MA production by Marvel Studios, allowing it to include a level of violence that fans of the Netflix Defenders-verse series are sure to enjoy. Though Fisk’s brutality was on full display in Daredevil, there’s much more to the character. During a global press event for Echo, D’Onofrio was asked what makes Kingpin, who first appeared in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #50 in 1967, so compelling.

    I think that, you know, originally in the comic books, he was also compelling, I think. And I’ve just been lucky to get the opportunity, beginning with the Netflix show, with really good writing to bring him forward in I guess a kind of new way, but just my version of what they did in the original comics. And then, now in Echo, you know, it’s just more good writing and, you know, without the writing, you know, I can’t really do much other than, you know, show up. And so, the writing is there, and it gives me the opportunity to bring the character forward.

    Vincent D’Onofrio
    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel Studios’ ECHO, releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Netflix’s Daredevil series was created by Drew Goddard and saw showrunners Steven S. DeKnight (Season 1), Douglas Petrie and Marco Ramirez (Season 2) and Erik Oleson (Season 3) work to create a complex and nuanced character that, thanks to the performance of D’Onofrio, became a fan favorite despite being a villain. On Echo, head writers Marion Dayre and Amy Rardin led a writers’ room, according to D’Onofrio, captured the parts of the character from Netflix series. “I think, with Echo, is the first time since the Netflix show when I’ve actually felt like we brought Fisk into Maya’s story, but in a way that Fisk is, I think, best portrayed,” explained D’Onofrio. “It’s very similar to the way it was in the original series,” he continued, “and that’s very exciting for me always, ’cause it has a more grittier feel to it and it’s a more emotional story with me and Alaqua’s character, Maya. And I think that kind of tone is the proper way for where my character, I believe, lives best.“

    With D’Onofrio affirming that viewers can expect the same tone to carry over into Marvel Studios’ 18-episode streaming series, Daredevil: Born Again, fans of the Netflix series should look forward to having their appetites for the grittiness of that universe sated. All episodes of Echo will stream on Hulu and Disney Plus beginning January 9th.

    About Echo

    Marvel Studios presents Echo, spotlighting Maya Lopez as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy. Echo stars Alaqua Cox (Hawkeye) as Maya Lopez, as well as Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s Reservation Dogs, American Gods), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs) and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind), with Graham Greene (1883, Goliath) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Daredevil, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who returns to the villainous role of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin.

    Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland. Co-executive producers are Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin. Marvel Studios’ Echo launches on Disney+ and Hulu Jan. 9, 2024.

  • Vincent D’Onofrio Reveals What It Would Take to End Wilson Fisk’s Reign as the Kingpin of NYC

    Vincent D’Onofrio Reveals What It Would Take to End Wilson Fisk’s Reign as the Kingpin of NYC

    As Bruce Springsteen once reminded us: only the strong survive. Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Wilson Fisk is a survivor. New York City’s Kingpin of Crime survived a point-blank shot to the head in the season finale of Hawkeye and it back on his feet in Marvel Studios’ latest streaming series, Echo, where he will find himself face-to-face with the one who pulled the trigger: his adopted “niece”, Maya Lopez.

    From the sounds of it, Fisk’s return in Echo is just the first step along a path that will see the Kingpin become the “big bad” of Marvel Studios’ street-level stories. Next up for Fisk will be the streaming series Daredevil: Born Again, where it’s been rumored the Fat Man will run for Mayor of New York City. Further speculation posits that his arc in that series will dovetail into Spider-Man 4, which has reportedly been developed as a “street-level Civil War.”

    While there have been no official announcements, it seems the next Spidey film won’t hit theaters until 2026 at best. That means we’re a long way off from casting and set photos; however, D’Onofrio hasn’t been shy about expressing his desire to appear in the film and taking on the Web-Slinger. It’s likely that Spidey wouldn’t be alone in trying to take down the Kingpin (recent rumors support the common sense idea that Daredevil would be among the street-level heroes teaming up with Spider-Man) should they square off and, according to D’Onofrio, the Wall-Crawler would need all the help he can get.

    In an interview with Jake’s Takes, D’Onofrio was asked who could take down the Kingpin for good, since a bullet to the head couldn’t do the job, and while he doesn’t see that as a possibility, he did reveal who might stand a chance.

    This is a very difficult question, because I don’t see that happening. I don’t see Kingpin dying. Kingpin never died in the canon of the comic books, so that’s very difficult. I’ll talk in terms of who could come close to it. I think that it would have to be either Daredevil or Spider-Man…together, the two of them together, maybe. But I don’t see Kingpin going away. He never did when I was a kid, so I don’t expect he will now.

    While D’Onofrio can’t come out and say it, it sure seems as though Fisk is destined to find himself facing off against Daredevil and Spider-Man in the next Spidey solo film. Spidey star Tom Holland has also expressed a desire to see his character take on Kingpin and you have to think that at least part of Marvel Studios’ plan in bringing D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox back was to eventually put them together on the big screen.

    Fisk can be seen in Echo, which debuts on Hulu and Disney Plus on January 9th.

  • Marvel Exec on Wilson Fisk’s Thanos-Sized Role in the MCU’s Street-Level Stories

    Marvel Exec on Wilson Fisk’s Thanos-Sized Role in the MCU’s Street-Level Stories

    Vincent D’Onofrio’s return to the role of Wilson Fisk in the 2021 Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Hawkeye helped carve out a whole new corner of the MCU. As Kevin Feige confirmed at SDCC ’22, Marvel Studios was taking their storytelling to the streets where heroes such as Spider-Man and Daredevil would lead the way. Spinning out of Hawkeye is the studio’s next streaming series, Echo, which sees Fisk return from what should have been a kill shot at the end of Maya Lopez’s barrel.

    Despite some creative retooling, it’s expected that Echo will dovetail into another streaming series, Daredevil: Born Again, which will reunite Fisk with Charlie Cox’s Man Without Fear. Beyond that series, rumors point to the storyline continuing to be threaded into the fourth Marvel Studios/Sony Spider-Man collaboration, which was recently described as a street-level Civil War. Early rumors suggested that Daredevil: Born Again would adapt Marvel Comics’ “Mayor Fisk” storyline. Photos from the set of the series seemed to support those rumors as they showed a very distinguished-looking Wilson Fisk on the streets of New York. All signs point to very big things ahead for the Kingpin of Crime.

    In an interview with Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, responded to the notion that Fisk was being positioned to be the “Thanos of the street-level corner of the MCU.” “Oh man, you kind of hit the nail on the head,” said Winderbaum. “I can’t say too much, only that as a chapter in Wilson Fisk’s life, this is a crucial one and sets the stage in some remarkable ways for what’s coming next.“

    While there’s been no official announcement by Sony about when a fourth installment in the Spider-Man franchise may appear, it’s been made clear by Feige that the project has been in development for some time and that writers have long understood the assignment for the film. For his part, D’Onofrio has made it well-known on multiple occasions that he’d like to see Fisk, who first appeared in the pages of Spider-Man comics, square off against the Wall-Crawler in Spider-Man 4. Though he stops short of saying it, Winderbaum certainly does nothing to turn down the heat on the rumors and, if anything, his comments are sure to fan the flames of an already hot fire.

  • Marvel Exec Confident the Netflix Series are Sacred Timeline Canon

    Marvel Exec Confident the Netflix Series are Sacred Timeline Canon

    Marvel Studios upcoming streaming series, Echo, will the be first project under the studio’s new Marvel Spotlight banner. That means, according to newly minted Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum, anyone who tunes in “doesn’t need to have seen other Marvel series to understand what’s happening in Maya’s story.” That’s not to say that watching other series or films won’t add some additional context to the series, only that while watching Echo, the audience “can focus on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity.“

    Just what does or does not make up MCU continuity had been an ongoing debate for quite some time; however, in the forward to Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline book, the studio’s One Above All, Kevin Feige, indicated that with the Multiverse now in play, pretty much everything is canon. “On the Multiverse note, we recognize that there are stories – movies and series – that are canonical to Marvel but were created by different storytellers during different periods of Marvel’s history,” wrote Feige, before adding that the “timeline presented in this book is specific to the MCU’s Sacred Timeline through Phase 4.” That book does not contain references to some of Marvel’s best-loved TV series including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist or Daredevil. And so while those stories are canon, the events depicted within did not take place on the MCU’s Sacred Timeline, aka the one in which all of the studio’s films and Disney Plus series have been set…but maybe that’s not the case after all.

    In an interview with Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier, Winderbaum seemingly contradicted Feige’s statement. When asked if the events of the Netflix series were part of the Sacred Timeline, Winderbaum went the long way around to say yes…at least in his mind.

    So, I can say that up until this point, we’ve been a little bit cagey about what’s Sacred Timeline and what’s not. That was born, frankly, out of a period at the studio where we were like “we have to stick the landing with Avengers.” It was another part of the company developing the Netflix stuff; we were aware of what they were doing, they were aware of what we were doing, but it was a lot.. it was a lot to balance anyway. But now that some time has passed, now that we actually see how well-integrated the stories are, I personally, Brad Winderbaum, will confidently say that they are part of the Sacred Timeline.

    Brad Winderbaum giving Brad Winderbaum’s view on if Netflix series are part of the Sacred Timeline

    Winderbaum’s admission to the studio’s caginess around the inclusion of specific projects on the Sacred Timeline touches on a topic much discussed and debated online. Many fans believe in its Marvel Studios’ best interests to avoid answering the question of canonicity in order to continue generating online discussion. However, given his very important new position at the studio, Winderbaum seems uniquely positioned to have THE answer to the question. It’s likely that something in the upcoming series, Echo, will connect so directly to the Netflix series that there will be no room left for questions.

    All 5 episodes of Echo will synchronously debut on Hulu and D+ at 9 PM EST on January 9th.

  • ‘Echo’ Star Alaqua Cox Explains How Her Childhood Trauma Prepared Her for the Role

    ‘Echo’ Star Alaqua Cox Explains How Her Childhood Trauma Prepared Her for the Role

    Alaqua Cox was brand new to the Hollywood scene when she co-starred in Marvel Studios 2021 D+ streaming series, Hawkeye. After having only one high school play under her belt, the actress serendipitously came across a casting call for a deaf, Native American actress and decided, in her own words, “to go for it.” After landing the role of Maya Lopez, Cox‘s hard work and determination in the role impressed the Marvel brass so much that, according to executive producer Trinh Tran, they determined she’s earned the opportunity to “be a superhero in her own right.” That decision led to the development of the Marvel Spotlight series, Echo, which debuts simultaneously on both Disney Plus and Hulu on January 9th.

    Echo represents the first Marvel Studios project led by a deaf and Native American and, due to some intense violence, is also their first TV-MA offering. As seen in Hawkeye, Maya Lopez grew up in the world of organized crime in New York; however, Echo is set to explore an earlier period in time in the character’s life and detail the trauma that led her and her father, William Lopez, to end up working for Wilson Fisk. During a global press event, Cox explained how her own set of difficult circumstances prepared her for the role of Echo.

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ Echo, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Well, we’re similar. I was raised with some trauma. We both have childhood trauma, of course, that we’re raised with. And it was different, of course. For example, I grew up, as you know, I am an amputee. So, I went through many different kinds of surgeries as a child. And so, that made me a warrior, in a sense. And her, Maya, she had the death of her mother, and all these tragic events that happened in her life. So, we both have different traumatic experiences. So, it kind of makes us very similar in a way because we’re both warriors, and we’re tough, and we’re badass, and I believe that’s how we’re the same.

    -Alaqua Cox

    While Cox certainly faced–and overcame–significant trauma to end up starring in her own Marvel Studios series, her childhood wasn’t defined by it. The actress, who grew up on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin, credits a life full of athletics, along with growing up with an older brother, for toughening her up and preparing for the physical role.

    “Luckily, I grew up playing different kinds of sports as well,” said Cox. “Plus, I do have an older brother who helped me become more of an athlete, because he’s very much an athletic person. We’re about a year and a half apart, so we wrestled growing up. So that toughened me up. And then, when I did get the role,” she continued, “I had a stunt training team. About five days a week I would go to the training, and it was a lot. I learned so much as well. ‘Cause growing up in sports, there wasn’t a lot of stunt-specific things in sports, so stunt training was a whole new world to me. And I was able to learn choreography, jabs, fights, and those specific moves, and that was so fun, and very challenging as well. But that was the greatest part of the project. So, it was a fun journey for me.“

    As seen in the trailers and promotional footage for the series, Cox did quite a bit of her own stuntwork for the series, including a one-take fight scene similar to those featured in Netflix’s Daredevil series. See how Cox’s determination and hard work has paid off when Echo debuts on January 9th.

    About Echo

    Marvel Studios presents Echo, spotlighting Maya Lopez as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy. Echo stars Alaqua Cox (Hawkeye) as Maya Lopez, as well as Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s Reservation Dogs, American Gods), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs) and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind), with Graham Greene (1883, Goliath) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Daredevil, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who returns to the villainous role of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin.

    Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland. Co-executive producers are Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin. Marvel Studios’ Echo launches on Disney+ and Hulu Jan. 9, 2024.

  • ‘Echo’: Marvel Studios New Marvel Spotlight Explained

    ‘Echo’: Marvel Studios New Marvel Spotlight Explained

    Marvel’s next streaming series, Echo, will check off a lot of “firsts” for the studio. With a story centered around Alqua Cox’s Maya Lopez–who was first introduced in 2021’s D+ streaming series, Hawkeye— Echo will be the first MCU project led by both a deaf and Native American actress. As the studio’s first TV-MA project, it will stream synchronously on Hulu and D+, where all 5 episodes will drop on January 9th. And, after some post-production retooling, the series will also be the first project to debut under a brand new production banner for the studio known as Marvel Spotlight. The banner is more than just semantical doublespeak, however, as it represents a new direction for the studio that’s deeply connected to the long history of Marvel Comics.

    One of three “tryout books” devised by Stan Lee when he became president of the House of Ideas, Marvel Spotlight was an anthology series that introduced new characters such as Red Wolf, Jessica Drew, Werewolf By Night, Ghost Rider and Son of Satan and then assess the reaction of the readership before greenlighting new series. Additionally, Marvel Spotlight books included stories about previously established characters which, in some cases, retconned major pieces of their stories or provided additional background essential to them. One such instance was 1976’s Marvel Spotlight #31 which in a story about Nick Fury, introduced the Infinity Formula as the reason behind the character’s unnatural hold on youth. Though Echo is not the first appearance of Maya Lopez, the series does stick to the Marvel Spotlight in this way by revealing the true origin of the character.

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ Echo, releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    According to an official project announcement from Marvel Studios, Marvel Spotlight projects will bring “more grounded, character-driven stories to the screen.” Additionally, “under the new banner“, series such as Echo “can focus on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity” and, perhaps most importantly, “viewers don’t have to watch any other Marvel series to understand the plot.” While the “street-level stakes” are certainly eye-catching, especially for fans of Netflix’s Defenders-verse series, the last bit of the announcement deserves some attention as well.

    In theory–and hopefully in practice–a Marvel Spotlight series will not require any prior exposure to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the case of Echo, that means anyone who tunes in on Disney Plus or Hulu will not have to have seen, nor have any understanding of, Hawkeye, Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law or even, as heretical as it may seem, a single one of Daredevil’s 39 episodes. Not only does that render features such as the ridiculous “The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Echo” totally meaningless, it also implies–if not promises–that any and all background information necessary to fully digest the plot of Echo will be included within its 5 episodes.

    In this way, the new banner represents an interesting pivot for the studio at a time when casual fans have begun to decry the interconnectivity of the projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (please, let that last sentence strike you however it may). Yes, Marvel Spotlight projects like Echo will include characters, such as Daredevil and Kingpin, from the ever-expanding MCU but whatever is NECESSARY to the plot of the series will be contained within. That provides a classic win-win scenario for Marvel Studios in which if a viewer wants to watch every episode of Daredevil or Hawkeye ahead of Echo, they could–potentially–find their viewing experience enhanced. However, a newbie could also tune in on January 9th and find out everything they need to know throughout a much shorter period of time. Choose your own adventure and you win either way.

    About Echo

    Marvel Studios presents Echo, spotlighting Maya Lopez as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy. Echo stars Alaqua Cox (Hawkeye) as Maya Lopez, as well as Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s Reservation Dogs, American Gods), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs) and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind), with Graham Greene (1883, Goliath) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Daredevil, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who returns to the villainous role of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin.

    Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland. Co-executive producers are Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin. Marvel Studios’ Echo launches on Disney+ and Hulu Jan. 9, 2024.

  • Ranking Season 2 of Marvel Studios ‘What If…?’ Episodes

    Ranking Season 2 of Marvel Studios ‘What If…?’ Episodes

    The second season of Marvel Studios canonical animated adventure, What If…?, took viewers on another trip around the Multiverse, exploring alternate realities where things play out a little–or a lot–differently than on the Scared Timeline. Marvel’s second go-round with the idea produced a stronger season overall, though occasionally the creators weren’t quite as far “out of the box” as they could have been. With all 9 episodes now streaming on Disney Plus, we took a stab at ranking them all…

    9. What If…Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?

    Unfortunately, like its predecessor from Season 1, “What If…Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?” fails to diverge enough from the film that inspired it. While there were a few changes, including having the Red Room play a role in the episode, it’s still just Captain America: The Winter Soldier but with Peggy in Steve’s boots. Peggy’s given much more to do in the two-part season finale and the character would be better served with more original ideas. Let’s hope we don’t have to see “What If…Captain Carter Started a Civil War?” in Season 3.

    8. What If…Strange Supreme Intervened?

    Strange-Supreme in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    “What If…Strange Supreme Intervened?” featured some really cool concepts. The multiversal Sanctum Infinitum. Universe Killers. The Forge. However, the concepts fell victim to lackluster execution and the Universe Killers turned out to be a bunch of characters we’ve all seen before. While this episode certainly feels like a little preview into how Avengers: Secret Wars might adapt the Battleworld concept into the MCU, here’s to hoping Michael Waldron’s script includes at least a couple of characters we haven’t already spent a bunch of time with. Please, stop including the Black Order in things.

    7. What If…Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?

    Nebula in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Marvel’s film noir episode, the heavy-handed Blade Runner vibes in “What If…Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” hide some of the blemishes present in the story itself. With the opportunity to diverge entirely from James Gunn‘s Nova Corps mall cops and create something more aligned with the comics, the episode sails along in mediocrity with half-baked ideas. No episode of the season has a more “could, woulda, shoulda” feel than this.

    6. What If…Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?

    The “Lost Gamora” episode of Season 1 made its long-awaited debut and did not disappoint. Part The Running Man and part Death Race, the episode reminds the audience that no matter where he is in the Multiverse, Tony Stark is a force to be reckoned with and one of the MCU’s true heroes. It could have benefited from straying a little further from the events of Thor: Ragnarok but it still landed well.

    5. What If…The Avengers Assembled in 1602?

    1602 Wanda Merlin in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    As the creators of the episode pointed out, sometimes a story just needs to be fun. And there’s no doubt that “What If…The Avengers Assembled in 1602?” is a lot of fun. It’s fun because the voice cast is having fun–Jon Favreau really leaned into Sir Harold “The Happy” Hogan and Paul Rudd is always a treat–and because it features some great moments. It lacks the bigger bang of the 2003 Neil Gaiman limited series that inspired it but that may boil down to the inability to include some of the characters and ideas explored there. Still, it’s entertaining and gave a little more insight into the idea of Incursions, reminding us of the possibility that any of these realities–and the characters that inhabit them–could return down the road.

    4. What If…Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

    (L-R): Dr. Wendy Lawson/Mar-vell, Bill Foster/Goliath, Black Panther/King T’Chaka, and Hank Pym/Ant-Man in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Alternatively titled “What If…Yondu Did the Job Ego Hired Him For?”, this episode takes a pretty sweet left turn and explores an alternate reality where there came a day unlike any other when Earth’s mightiest heroes found themselves united against a common threat. The all-new, all-different Avengers that assemble in the episode are a fun gang (it’s great to see Bill Foster and hear Lawrence Fishburn!) and there’s a wonderful theme present about the true nature of a hero, in this cast Peter Quill. While you could call into question why some of the characters were included at all–will Marvel Studios ever tell a cool Mar-Vell story?–this is a great example of the type of stories What If…? can deliever.

    3. What If…Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?

    Tony Stark/Iron Man in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    If “What If…Strange Supreme Intervened?” is an example of an episode with a great concept that didn’t work well in execution, “What If…Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?” is an example of an episode with a ridiculous concept that was executed to perfection. There’s no reason this episode should have worked as well as it did…but it did and it was a blast. Favreau’s willingness to go all in on the crazy as The Freak deserves praise as does the work done by Sam Rockwell in his return as Justin Hammer.

    2. What If…Hela Found the Ten Rings?

    (L-R): Xu Wenwu and Hela in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    It’s hard to imagine how an episode like “What If…Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?” can exist in the same season as something as creative as “What If…Hela Found the Ten Rings?”. It’s especially hard when the beginning of the episode seems to be stepping in the same wrong direction of the Carter story by putting Hela in Thor’s unworthy shoes; however, it takes a hard left turn and tells one of the best stories in the anthology to date. It also has produced an alternate reality as different as any the series has created short of the one in which Kahhori lives. This type of story is why the studio should continue to produce more seasons of What If…? but only if they take care to curate them in the way they did here.

    1. What If…Kahhori Reshaped the World?

    Kahhori in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

    The best episode of the season and of the series to date, “What If…Kahhori Shaped the World?” proves what’s possible when creativity is unleashed. Unrestrained by trying to rhyme with any beats from any particular MCU story before it, the episode introduced the beautiful Mohawk Skyworld, explored the nature of the power of the Space Stone and gave the MCU its first original hero in Wolf Clan member Kahhori. With another season of What If…? on the docket, here’s to hoping the wonderful reception this episode received from fans inspires more stories of its kind.

          Two 9-episode seasons of What If…? are now streaming on Disney Plus. Check out our rankings of the first season’s episodes right here!