Variety has shared a piece on 2024's streaming titles, confirming Echo is the second most-viewed series on Disney+ this year so far. It's an impressive achievement, particularly as Marvel Studios dropped all five episodes at once, leading to the show being quickly forgotten.
We've seen in recent years that weekly drops are much better for keeping people talking about new titles (which goes against Netflix's once highly successful streaming model of releasing every episode at once).
Rumour has it Echo suffered from quite a few issues behind the scenes, with six instalments becoming five, as a result. That could explain why they hit Disney+ on the same day, though reviews were somewhat positive as is evident from the show's 71% Rotten Tomatoes score.
However, putting this news into context is the fact, "[Percy Jackson and the Olympians] accounts for nearly a quarter of Disney+ original series viewing time so far in 2024, nearly doubling the share of the second-place series (Marvel’s 'Echo')."
Earlier this year, Echo star Alaqua Cox shared her hopes for a second season of the Marvel Spotlight series.
"[I'd like more of] Maya's family," the actress said. "I wouldn't mind if they went to New York City and all got revenge on those people that have hurt them and also used the powers of their ancestors that they have. I think that'd be cool storyline. And the Green Goblin. That would be pretty cool. I think I'd like to face the Green Goblin."
"I would hope that she's able to cross paths with other superheroes as well, for example, the Avengers," Cox said of her wider hopes for Echo in the MCU. "That would be a dream come true if she was able to meet any of the Avengers or even if she was in Daredevil [Born Again]. We just don't know. I'd like to see any of those possibilities."
It's unclear what the future holds in store for the character, though we do expect her to appear in Daredevil: Born Again at some point. Marvel Studio may, however, choose to move on from the anti-hero given how neatly her story ended on Disney+ earlier this year.
Echo spotlights Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk's (Vincent D'Onofrio) criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy.
The five-episode streaming event also stars Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Graham Greene (1883, Goliath), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX's Reservation Dogs, American Gods), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX's Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Godfather of Harlem).
The series is directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai).
All five episodes of Echo are now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.