Posted in: Disney+, Marvel, Preview, streaming, Trailer, TV | Tagged: disney plus, Echo, hawkeye, Marvel Studios, preview, teaser

Echo: Disney+ Teaser "Prey" Won't Let Us Forget That TV-MA Rating

With a week to go until Alaqua Cox & Vincent D’Onofrio-starring Echo hits Disney+, a new teaser reminds us again why it has a TV-MA rating.

With only a week to go until the Alaqua Cox & Vincent D'Onofrio-starring five-episode Echo hits our screens, Marvel Studios and Disney+ have been doing their part to make sure that viewers know that the series is living up to its TV-MA rating. In fact, director Sydney Freeland discussed that very topic during a recent interview, explaining why that was important in making sure that Maya Lopez, aka Echo (Cox), maintains her villainous/big bad side. Well, if you thought the studio & streamer were done convincing you that it could do "Netflix Marvel" just as well as Netflix's Marvel series did, then we would like to introduce you to the teaser, "Prey," because it's brutal.

Here's a look at the latest teaser, followed by a look back at what else we know about the "Marvel Spotlight" series…

Echo Director Sydney Freeland: Series Makes Most of TV-MA Rating

Speaking with EW, Freeland offered some insights into just how much the "Hawkeye" spinoff series leans into its TV-MA rating when it comes to the violence and the importance of remembering that Lopez is a villain. In addition, Freeland praises Cox for her ability to balance the action with the deeply emotional moments that the story offers. "Because we're dealing with a story that is more street-level, it is a little more grounded and a little more visceral. We're leaning into the TV-MA aspect of it. One of the big things when I first came on was talking to Marvel and saying, 'Well, she's a villain in Hawkeye, and to me, that's the most interesting thing about her.' And their response was, 'Let's lean into that, let's explore that,'" the director shared when addressing how the studio responded to Freeland not wanting to daily back the "villain" aspect.

Apparently, that included the level of violence that Lopez could inflict, too. "As we progressed through the production, I had the chance to say, 'Okay, so what if this guy gets his head smashed onto the table and actually loses a couple of teeth?' That's the character, and that's the world: She's a criminal, and she's a villain; she's killing people," Freeland added. "And the response was, 'Yeah, let's try it!'" And from what Freeland has to share about the series' star, Cox proved to be more than up for the challenge. "I'm so excited for people to see what she can do," Freeland shared. "Yes, we've got fight sequences, but one of the things I'm most proud of from this series is how emotional it is. Alaqua is just the beating heart of this show."

Joining Cox and D'Onofrio for the five-episode streaming series are 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). Now, here's a look at the teaser that was released this past weekend, followed by a look back at the series overview & official trailer – with Marvel Studios' Echo hitting Disney+ & Hulu screens on January 9th at 6 pm PT/9 pm ET:

Streaming exclusively on Disney, the origin story of Echo revisits Maya Lopez, whose ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown. She must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.

Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D'Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre, and Sydney Freeland – with Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin co-executive-producing.

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