Echo is set to star in her own spin-off series on Disney+, but the recent news that the series has been delayed could potentially cause the MCU similar issues to what happened with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The upcoming project will follow Alaqua Cox’s Maya Lopez following the events of Hawkeye. Not much is known about the specifics of the plot, but the series will follow Lopez to Oklahoma, where she must confront both new threats and the demons of her past.
Originally scheduled for a release in summer 2023, showrunner Marion Dayre recently confirmed on the Writer’s Panel podcast (via FOREVER DOG) that the series would not be coming out as soon as expected. When asked about the exact premiere date of the show, Dayre responded, “That will be probably a year from when this comes out.” This changes how Echo will fit among other Marvel movies and shows scheduled for next year, and the new winter window for release could cause some continuity problems that other projects need to adjust around.
Delays Can Cause Rewrites & Continuity Problems In The MCU
![MCU Phase 5 May Already Have A Timeline Problem](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Doctor-Strange-Spider-Man-No-Way-Home-Multiverse-Of-Madness.jpg)
While the interconnected nature of the MCU creates exciting story opportunities, it also means that a delay can have rippling effects throughout other projects. One notable example is that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was originally scheduled to release before Spider-Man: No Way Home. Pandemic-related closures and delays caused Marvel to shift some projects, and No Way Home had to undergo rewrites to account for Strange not having already traversed the multiverse and America Chavez not being there to open the portals to other spider-men (Ned was eventually given that honor). While it worked out, Spider-Man writers had to work to avoid MCU timeline and continuity problems.
Echo‘s delay could cause similar problems if the show’s story affects anyone in the wider MCU. While the story premise seems to imply a fairly self-contained adventure, there’s no way to know for sure if any characters from other projects releasing in late summer through winter 2023 will have to go through a rewrite process to account for missing prerequisite events. Considering 2023 will see the arrival of Kang the Conqueror ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty that seems worryingly possible. Hopefully, Echo will only affect projects released after its new release window.
Why Echo’s Delay May Not Matter
![Blended image of Echo, Daredevil, and Kingpin in the MCU](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/MCU-Echo-Kingpin-Daredevil-Roles.jpg)
Fortunately, the late 2023 MCU schedule is currently devoid of projects that are likely to overlap with Echo. Another season of Hawkeye is yet to be confirmed. Echo has ties with Daredevil in Marvel’s comics, but Daredevil: Born Again isn’t scheduled to hit screens until spring 2024. Daredevil may appear in Echo, but his appearance should still predate his solo series by several months. While release date changes can be a big deal for interconnected tent-pole films, the Disney+ series have hitherto remained fairly self-contained, so Marvel Studios is likely confident that the Echo delay will result in a better show and avoid rippling continuity pressures.
Key Release Dates
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