Marvel producer Richie Palmer expressed enthusiasm for Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin to take on a more significant villain role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). After D'Onofrio's portrayal of Wilson Fisk in the Netflix series "Daredevil" and the MCU series "Hawkeye," Palmer sees potential for Kingpin's expansion post-"Echo." Palmer praised D'Onofrio's portrayal, highlighting the character's depth and changes since "Hawkeye." "Echo" signifies a Marvel Spotlight series that doesn't require extensive prior MCU knowledge and is the first mature audience-rated (TV-MA) series available on both Disney+ and Hulu.

The series introduces Maya Lopez/Echo, played by Alaqua Cox, as Kingpin's adoptive daughter, a character with deep ties to Daredevil and uniqueness as a deaf Native American. Created by David Mack and Joe Quesada, Echo first appeared in "Daredevil" Vol. 2 #9 in 1999.

How is "Echo" connected to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe?

"Echo" is part of the Marvel Spotlight initiative, designed to be accessible without deep knowledge of the MCU continuity. It ties into the MCU through characters like Maya Lopez, originally introduced in "Hawkeye," and Kingpin, with connections to previous Netflix Marvel series and ties to future Disney+ series.

The character of Kingpin, portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio, first appeared in the Marvel Comics universe in "The Amazing Spider-Man" #50 in 1967. Since then, he has been one of the most iconic villains in the Spider-Man and Daredevil comic series. Kingpin's transition into the MCU introduces a dynamic and formidable antagonist with a rich history which heightens anticipation among comic book fans and viewers familiar with the character's notorious reputation.