Advocating for Kingpin: Vincent D’Onofrio Envisions an Origin Story Resembling that of the Joker
Social media reactions have emerged about the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe TV show, Echo, featuring the return of Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez. While it will be a few months until 2024’s first and only MCU movie, Deadpool 3, the first Marvel Studios series for the year is on its way with the Hawkeye spinoff Echo. Focusing on Maya after the events of Hawkeye, Echo will mark the MCU’s first Marvel Spotlight show. With the Echo TV show dropping all of its episodes this week on Disney+ and Hulu, critics have been able to screen the first three episodes of the limited-event series. As the embargo has lifted, several members of the press have started sharing their thoughts on Echo episodes 1-3. Check out some reactions below: Screen Rant’s Molly Freeman praises the “breathless fight scenes and a stunningly unique voice,” and adds that Echo improves after the first episode. Screen Rant’s Rob Keyes isn’t entirely sold yet until he’s seen the whole season, but credits Echo for doing “some unexpected things,” while also being thrilled to see Daredevil and Wilson Fisk back again.
I’d like to do something like, “What if…?” The story of Art Fisk. I just want to explore him outside of the usual villain/superhero combination. I’d love to see a more realistic version, similar to what they did with Joker…with a more introspective approach and, you know, 10 times more than what they’ve done with Joker so far. It’s dark. You know, that would be really interesting to explore. And while you could, again, argue that many of D’Onofrio’s scenes as the character—especially in the now semi-canon first season of Netflix’s Daredevil show—already approach that idea in terms of both realism and darkness, we can’t deny that what the actor is pitching doesn’t have a certain appeal. Part of the genius of his portrayal (which he’ll also be reprising in the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again, whenever Disney gets done extensively retooling it) comes from the very human notes D’Onofrio lends to the character, whether it’s Fisk’s capacity for warmth to the people he loves, or his boundless reserves of rage. Seeing him dive deeper into those elements, without the need to have him try to bear hug a man in a devil costume to death every couple of episodes, might make for a hell of a one-shot.