Marvel Studios’ upcoming series Echo, is set to release on both Disney+ and Hulu on January 9. Alaqua Cox returns as Maya Lopez, a deaf indigenous person who not only faces criminals who work close to “The Kingpin” Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onfrio) but also her own family and legacy.
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During the press conference for the series, Cox spoke about bringing the Marvel Comics character to life and the close connection she has with the role of Maya Lopez, aka Echo. The characters was first introduced in Marvel’s Hawkeye TV miniseries.
REDISCOVERING FAMILY
According to Cox, one of the main things she wanted to bring out into the character was learning to be back with those closest to her after being away for so long. The actress stated:
“Maya is a deaf indigenous person who has a biological family and an adopted family, and she’s trying to reconnect with her family after finding out that her adopted family, her uncle specifically, betrayed her. So, she went back to reconnect with her biological family and try to rediscover a more complicated and deep life that she did live and rediscover.”
-Alaqua Cox-
For Devery Jacobs, who plays Maya Lopez’s cousin, Bonnie, it was important to focus on the personal roots of the relationship between both characters in the series. Jacobs stated on Echo:
“I think through the series of Echo that we’re able to uncover Maya in her journey of figuring out what family means to her and Bonnie being part of that glimpse of who Maya might’ve been, had she not been pulled away to New York.”
-Devery Jacobs-
ALAQUA COX ON SIMILARITIES AND STUNT TRAINING FOR MAYA LOPEZ
In the series, Maya Lopez is both an amputee and a deaf indigenous woman who goes through hardships and trauma. For Cox, this was something she could relate to in portraying the character since she has also had her battles to go through growing up. Cox shared about her connection with the character:
“I grew up, as you know, I am an amputee. I went through many different kinds of surgeries as a child and that made me a warrior, in a sense. Maya had the death of her mother and all these tragic events that happened in her life. We both have different traumatic experiences and it kind of makes us similar in a way because we’re both warriors, we’re tough and we’re badass.”
-Alaqua Cox-
When it came to preparing for the physical parts of the role, Cox explained that even though she was active in different sports before taking on the role, the stunt training she had endured was a learning experience. Cox continued during the presser, “When I did get the role, I had a stunt training team. About five days a week, I would do the training and it was a lot. I learned so much as well because growing up in sports, there weren’t a lot of stunt-specific things in sports so stunt training was a whole new world to me.”
Cox also shared that was able to learn different types of choreography with specific jabs and fighting movements. She grew up with an older brother in which they would both be competitive with one another.
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According to Cox, it helped her to become more active but when it came to taking on the role, it was a challenging journey. She stated, “I was able to learn choreography, jabs, fights, specific moves and it was very fun and challenging. That was the greatest part of the project. It was a journey for me.”
You can watch all five episodes of Echo when it lands on both Disney+ and Hulu on January 9, 2024.
ABOUT ECHO
Release date: January 9, 2024 (USA)
Director: Sydney Freeland, Catriona McKenzie
Screenplay: Marion Dayre, Josh Feldman, Jason Gavin, Steven Judd, Ken Kristensen, Ellen Morton, Amy Rardin, Rebecca Roanhorse, Shoshannah Stern, Chantelle Wells, Bobby Wilson.
Producers: Kevin Feige, Richie Palmer, Amy Rardin, Brad Winderbaum, Etan Cohen.
Cinematography: Kira Kelly, Magdalena Gorka
Edited by: Joel Pashby, Amelia Allwarden
Music by: Mato Standing Soldier
Production: Marvel Studios
Distributed by: Disney+, Hulu
Cast: Alaqua Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, Graham Greene, Vincent D’Onofrio, Charlie Cox
Synopsis: 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.
What do you guys think about Echo so far? Who are you most excited to see in the series? Are you a Maya Lopez fan? Let us know and don’t forget to check out our socials! If you like this article, make sure to follow us for more content.
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