Regardless of quality, many projects in the MCU differ in tone and style. We are getting something that is reminiscent of what Netflix did with its Marvel shows, as Marvel Studios released the first trailer for Echo (seen below). Alaqua Cox reprises her role as Maya Lopez from Hawkeye to finish what she started with Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) to deliver some brutality for the first TV-MA series for the studio’s library of Disney Plus shows.
The series focuses on Maya’s identity as a deaf Native American woman, the first for a comic book movie or TV show. She grapples with her complicated and hostile relationship with Kingpin. We hear D’Onofrio narrate much of the trailer until we see a pivotal moment between him and the titled character, who is holding him at gunpoint. We also get a taste of the show’s gritty, bloody action that rivals Daredevil and The Punisher.
Echo First Official Trailer: The Most Violent Show From Marvel Studios
The series will see some familiar faces alongside its two leads. Zahn McClaron (Reservation Dogs) returns from his Hawkeye role as our lead’s father. Charlie Cox has another appearance as Daredevil, who we see briefly in the Echo trailer as he fights Maya. It will also feature Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Graham Greene (Wind River), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian), and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!).
The series has Marion Dayre (Better Call Saul) as the head writer. Sydney Freeland (Reservation Dogs) and Catriona McKenzie (The Walking Dead) direct an unknown number of the five-episode series.
At a press event (via Variety), Freeland said “representation was extremely important” when developing the story and the mostly Native American cast of characters. For someone who “grew up reading Marvel comic books,” she had a well-read perspective of how to deliver our first Native American story in the MCU.
You can watch the first trailer for Echo to hold you over until it drops every episode on Disney Plus and Hulu on January 10.