Marvel’s Echo director Sydney Freeland explains how the anti-hero’s brutal encounter with Daredevil will be a significant moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series.
“It’s interesting. There’s a fight sequence in the first episode. When I read the script, what was great about this scene is that Maya Lopez, comes into the scene as a teenage girl, and she leaves the scene as a cold-blooded killer,” Freeland said in an interview with GamesRadar+. “Conceptually we shot that as a oner because I wanted the audience to be able to see that transformation take place in real time.”
Played by Alaqua Cox, Maya Lopez/Echo made her MCU debut in the Hawkeye series on Disney+ where she worked as the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia. Additionally, the character is the adopted niece of Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin played by Vincent D’Onofrio who reprises his critically-acclaimed role from Netflix‘s Daredevil series. Freeland detailed how she aimed to have Marvel fans closely identify with Echo as she shifts from a supporting villain role on Hawkeye to a full-on lead character.
“I wanted the audience to be able to put themselves into her shoes and hopefully experience things along with her,” Freeland said. “I think within that as well, we wanted to honor the origins of the Echo character in the comic books. And she first appeared in the Daredevil series in the late nineties. But in order to see how all that comes together, you have to watch the series.”
In preparation for the series, Cox underwent an exhausting stunt training process to capture a level of brutality reminiscent of the original Daredevil series’ epic fight sequences. “Having this stunt team was so fun to work with and I was able to learn the new choreography and the fights, new stuff every single day,” Cox said. “And I wasn’t used to it, of course, but it looked great in the film. And then, you know, some days we learned choreography on the day of. But, it was so fun and challenging. Overall, it was a fun, tiring, experience doing stunt work.”
What is Echo about?
“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 Cox alongside Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin and Charlie Cox reprising his role as Matt Murdock/Daredevil. Additional cast members include Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, and Graham Greene. It is the first MCU series under the new Marvel Spotlight banner and the first to be a TV-MA Disney+ exclusive.
Echo releases in its entirety on January 9, 2024, on Hulu and Disney+.
