The new Marvel series Echo has just been released on Disney+ as of Wednesday, January 10, 2024. For fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this TV show confirms an essential piece of information.
With over 50 films and TV series, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is an immense web that continues to expand year after year. The universe is almost infinitely extensible between adaptations of existing stories – thanks to the plethora of comics – original stories, or possible reboots. For newcomers who want to dive into watching all of these programs, it can be difficult to keep up and navigate. Especially since sometimes, some of them are quickly canceled or are not considered full-fledged members of this big family. But now, that has just changed.
The new Disney+ Echo series shakes up the Marvel universe
The Marvel series Echo has finally premiered on Disney+ in January 2024, marking the beginning of the Marvel Spotlight banner. The banner is a platform for Marvel’s future projects that can exist autonomously, with a focus on telling character-centric stories rather than serving as preambles to major MCU events. Echo has successfully achieved this goal, albeit with some interconnectivity.
Despite the autonomy, there is still a timeline, and it has been expanded with the official confirmation that six Netflix series, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Defenders, and Daredevil, are now canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For Daredevil, it is possible that it may be linked to Echo since the character is present in the series, and Charlie Cox is still portraying him. This news has been a victory for fans who were disappointed with Daredevil’s exclusion from the MCU.
The move to make the Netflix series canon has been praised by fans, with many expressing their excitement and gratitude on social media platforms. The confirmation of the Netflix series’ canon status has opened up new possibilities for storytelling and character development within the MCU.
As Marvel continues to expand its universe, Echo has set a new standard for Marvel’s future projects. It has successfully established a balance between autonomy and interconnectivity, paving the way for more character-driven stories that can exist independently while still being part of the larger MCU narrative.
Daredevil and other Netflix TV shows are canon in the MCU
Marvel Studios executive Brad Winderbaum confirmed that Daredevil and other Netflix shows are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) canon. Fans have been wondering for years whether the Netflix shows, including Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Punisher, were part of the MCU. Winderbaum stated that the shows are included in the MCU’s “sacred timeline,” which means that they are officially part of the continuity.
Here is a list of the Netflix shows that are now considered canon in the MCU:
| Netflix Shows |
|---|
| Daredevil |
| Jessica Jones |
| Luke Cage |
| Iron Fist |
| The Punisher |
This confirmation opens up the possibility for these characters to appear in future MCU films or shows. However, it is unclear how or when they will be integrated into the larger MCU storyline.
