Marvel Studios Introduces New Characters in Echo

Marvel Studios Introduces New Characters in Echo

Marvel Studios' Echo set new heights for a long-running MCU record, thanks to the debuts of two new characters during its January 2024 release. The five-part Echo released in its entirety on Disney+ on January 9, 2024, reintroducing Alaqua Cox's Maya Lopez to the MCU following her debut as a minor antagonist in 2021's Hawkeye. Under the shadow of Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, Echo saw Maya Lopez return to her hometown of Tamaha, Oklahoma, rediscovering her roots and learning to embrace her family like never before. While several members of Echo's brilliant cast returned from previous MCU projects, Marvel Studios also introduced many new supporting characters for Echo.

The Return of Alaqua Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio

Echo marked the returns of Alaqua Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio from Hawkeye, portraying Maya Lopez and Wilson Fisk, while Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, also makes a brief cameo appearance, further solidifying his place in the MCU. Zahn McClarnon also returned as William Lopez, Maya's deceased father, but his backstory and Maya Lopez's origins were explored in more detail.

Andrew Howard as Zane at Skatelife in Echo

Andrew Howard as Zane at Skatelife in Echo

The world of Tamaha, Oklahoma, was fleshed out with new faces, however, and more of WIlson Fisk's criminal empire was investigated, which included introducing Andrew Howard as one of Kingpin's henchmen, Zane, who set his sights on capturing Maya Lopez after her fateful shooting of Fisk in Hawkeye's series finale.

Zane wearing sunglasses in Echo

Zane wearing sunglasses in Echo

Andrew Holland's Role in Echo and Agents of SHIELD

Andrew Holland portrayed Zane in Marvel Studios' Echo, who posed a minor threat to Maya Lopez throughout the series as he fought to capture and kill Maya Lopez for his boss, Wilson Fisk's Kingpin.

Zane aiming a gun at captured Maya Lopez and Henry Black Crow Lopez in Echo

Zane aiming a gun at captured Maya Lopez and Henry Black Crow Lopez in Echo

This isn't the first time Andrew Holland has been seen in a Marvel role, however, as the Echo actor previously appeared as Luther Banks, an operative of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit in Agents of SHIELD season 3. While Echo marks Holland's second MCU-related role, despite Agents of SHIELD's canon status in the wider MCU still being disputed, his appearance in Phase 5 adds another name to the list of actors who've portrayed multiple MCU roles.

Andrew Howard as Luther Banks in uniform in Agents of SHIELD

Andrew Howard as Luther Banks in uniform in Agents of SHIELD

Notable Actors with Multiple MCU Roles

Andrew Holland isn't the only Echo star to have previously portrayed another Marvel role, as Devery Jacobs, who portrays Maya Lopez's cousin Bonnie in Echo, more recently voiced the MCU original superhero Kahhori in What If...? season 2. Many other actors have also portrayed multiple MCU roles over the years.

Devery Jacobs as Bonnie in red light in Echo

Devery Jacobs as Bonnie in red light in Echo

Much like Andrew Holland, this trend has also seen actors cross the borders of Marvel Studios' projects and those developed by Marvel Television. Alfre Woodard played Mariah Dillard in Luke Cage and Miriam Sharpe in Captain America: Civil War, Matt Gerald played Melvin Potter in Daredevil and a Seagate inmate in the All Hail the King One-Shot, and Patrick Brennan played a bartender in Captain Marvel after appearing as villain Marcus Daniels in Agents of SHIELD.

Luther Banks with an Inhuman prisoner in Agents of SHIELD

Luther Banks with an Inhuman prisoner in Agents of SHIELD