Echo director and executive producer Sydney Freeland has promised Marvel Cinematic Universe fans that the upcoming Disney+ series will not shy away from exploring its TV-MA rating.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Freeland explained that Echo is “a story that is more street-level, it is a little more grounded and a little more visceral. We’re leaning into the TV-MA aspect of it.”
The director revealed that the decision to develop Echo with a TV-MA rating in mind spun out of the character’s role in the 2021 Disney+ series Hawkeye. “One of the big things when I first came on was talking to Marvel and saying, ‘Well, she’s a villain in Hawkeye, and to me that’s the most interesting thing about her.’ And their response was, ‘Let’s lean into that, let’s explore that,'” she recalled.
“As we progressed through the production, I had the chance to say, ‘Okay so what if this guy gets his head smashed onto the table, and actually loses a couple of teeth?’ That’s the character and that’s the world: She’s a criminal and she’s a villain, she’s killing people,” she added. “And the response was, ‘Yeah, let’s try it!'”
Echo will be released under the Marvel Spotlight banner
Echo, the first TV-MA-rated show developed by Marvel Studios, will debut under the Marvel Spotlight banner, a new initiative at Marvel Studios that aims to tell more “character-driven” stories in the MCU. Upcoming Marvel projects expected to join Echo as Marvel Spotlight series include Wonder Man and Daredevil: Born Again.
“Streaming exclusively on Disney, the origin story of Echo revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown,” the official synopsis reads. “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 stars Alaqua Cox, who reprises her role as Maya Lopez from Hawkeye, with Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox also returning from previous MCU projects as Kingpin and Daredevil, respectively. Additional cast members include Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, and Graham Greene.
All five episodes of Echo will be released on Disney+ and Hulu on January 9, 2024.
