Marvel Entertainment and Disney have unveiled our first look at the Disney+ series Echo. After first debuting in the role in Hawkeye, Alaqua Cox will take the starring role in the spinoff which will start streaming in 2023. The first photo, posted to Twitter by Disney+, gives fans a small tease of what’s to come in the character’s solo series.
Marion Dayre (Better Call Saul) created Echo, which is based on the Marvel Comics character created by David Mack and Joe Quesada. Along with Cox reprising her Hawkeye role as Maya Lopez, aka Echo, the series will also reportedly bring back Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. Zahn McClarnon also returns from Hawkeye as Maya’s father with other Echo stars including Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Cody Lightning, and Graham Greene.
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Echo will also make history when it debuts on Disney+ next year with Cox in the lead role. It marks the first superhero TV series centered on a Native American as well as the first superhero series starring a Deaf actor. Cox has previously spoken out about her excitement over making history with the production of Echo.
“It’s just so crazy that I’m getting my own show after Hawkeye. That was like my first acting role, ever,” Cox said last year, per Variety. “I don’t know why they’re giving me this opportunity, but I’m just grateful. I’m excited for the support and being able to advocate for the Deaf community. We want to have that equality and get more people involved. I’m just so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given.”
Alaqua Cox Made Her Acting Debut in the MCU
Alaqua Cox is a newcomer to acting, but after months of auditioning, she had still managed to impress Marvel with what she brings to the table as Maya Lopez. She explained with THR how she learned about her casting as she was met with Marvel heads giving her applause to welcome her into the MCU, making the casting official.
“I see about 12 people, including the Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, doing the deaf clap where you wave both your hands… I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ and they said, ‘Welcome to the Marvel family!’" Cox said.
Series director Rhys Thomas added, “We met with quite a few people, and I had the fun of reading with Alaqua. I got to sort of help her get prepared and then got to present her to Kevin and the team. I’m so grateful to them that they had the confidence. She had never acted [professionally] before, but they said, ‘Let’s do it.’"
There is not currently a release date set for Echo but the series will start streaming on Disney+ sometime in 2023. Meanwhile, Marvel fans can first check out Ms. Marvel when the Iman Vellani-led series premieres on Disney+ on June 8, 2022, with the series She-Hulk rumored to follow later this rummer.