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
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.
