Echo Director: Character’s Powers Were Changed, Comic Powers Were ‘Kind of Lame’

Echo director and executive producer Sydney Freeland has said that the eponymous character’s powers will be different in the Disney+ series.

Speaking at a press event, Freeland explained that Echo’s comic powers involved being able to copy anything, including movements, which the director described as “kind of lame.” She noted that copying “is not her power,” teasing that Maya’s abilities in the series will be different.

“Her power in the comic books is that she can copy anything, any movement, any whatever. It’s kind of lame,” Freeland stated (via Variety). “I will say, that is not her power. I’ll just kind of leave it at that.”

The series stars Alaqua Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Godfather of Harlem), 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), and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor! Four Sheets to the Wind).

What is in Echo about?

“The five-episode streaming event spotlights Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) criminal empire,” reads the new synopsis. “When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy. All five episodes will stream on Jan. 10 on both platforms. They’ll be available on Hulu until April 9. This marks the first Marvel Studios series to drop all entirely bingeable episodes at once.”