Echo's post-credits scene explained: How it sets up Daredevil: Born Again

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Echo.

Wilson Fisk is back, and he has big plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Vincent D’Onofrio reprises his role as the Kingpin of crime in the new Marvel series Echo, but this won’t be the last time that superhero fans see him on screen. D’Onofrio is set to continue his role alongside his old adversary Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) in Daredevil: Born Again.

That upcoming series had a creative shake-up recently, with the replacement of its head writers. In a recent interview with EW, D’Onofrio said that the “darker and more gritty” tone of Echo has given him and Cox a good idea of where they want to take their characters going forward. 

“Charlie and I talk almost every other day,” D’Onofrio tells EW. “We always have, and especially nowadays, especially to share good news. With the show we’re about to restart, the reception of Echo so far is helping everybody understand that this is a really good tone for Daredevil too. I think Born Again is heading in that direction in a major way now. Charlie and I have always felt that our characters are best seen not in a grotesquely violent way, but in a smartly violent way. There's a smart way of doing it in Echo, and so we're very happy right now.” 

That echoes what Cox has said as well. But the connection between Echo and Daredevil: Born Again is more than just tonal, as the new show’s post-credits scene indicates. 

The final episodes of Echo show Fisk trying to regain control over his old protegee Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) by any means necessary. He ultimately fails in that, and has to fly back to New York City with his tail between his legs. With his future in doubt now that his planned successor has rejected him in favor of her Choctaw family, Fisk learns of a new opportunity. 

In Echo's post-credits scene, Fisk watches a TV news segment in which the anchors discuss the state of the New York mayoral race. They declare that voters clearly want “someone who understands the pain they’re going through,” and that “a bare-knuckle brawler would do well in this race.” Fisk is always ready to brawl, and his final encounter with Maya led to him reliving the most painful moments of his life. So as the scene ends on a close-up of D’Onofrio, we know what the character’s thinking: Fisk is going to run for mayor of New York! 

If he wins, that would reflect plot developments from recent years of Marvel comics. Writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Marco Checchetto’s recent run on Daredevil from 2019-2021 saw Fisk elected mayor of New York, which eventually led to the Devil’s Reign crossover event. You can be sure D’Onofrio has read it, as he is well-versed in Daredevil comics from over the years. 

“There are so many places to go with this character, it's crazy,” D’Onofrio says. “Every once in a while, I think back on all the comics that I've read that he's been in, and there's just so many different things to do. It's exciting! I can only hope that I get the chance to explore them even more.” 

Maya may have protected her Choctaw family from Fisk, but now all of New York might have to fear the return of the Kingpin. 

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Related content:

• Echo viewers will be able to watch the Marvel series dubbed into the Choctaw language
• 2024 Preview: Echo director says new Marvel show will lean into violence, explore the meaning of family
• Maya Lopez returns to the MCU in first look at new Echo series