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Episode 3 of Hawkeye was full of fun Marvel Easter eggs, but it mostly spent time getting to know a new character, Maya Lopez, better known as Echo. She is the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia. Echo’s uncle was mentioned a few times throughout the new Hawkeye episode, leading many people to believe that Kingpin has returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Vincent D'Onofrio, who may reprise his role as Kingpin and be Echo's uncle in 'Hawkeye,' speaks onstage during a panel. The actor wears a gray suit jacket over a black shirt.
Vincent D’Onofrio | Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images

‘Hawkeye’ introduces Echo and teases her mysterious uncle

In the third episode of Hawkeye, Echo is introduced, and we learn that Ronin killed her father, who once led the Tracksuit Mafia, years ago. And ever since, she has been trying to track down the assassin. Of course, that’s what led her to Kate Bishop after the young archer stole the Ronin suit.

If we consider her interactions with Kazi, Echo’s mission to find Ronin seems to have blinded her. Plus, she almost strangled Kate to death because of her uninhibited rage. And, according to Kazi, Echo’s uncle would not be happy if he found out about them kidnapping Clint Barton and Kate. Clint also mentions to Kate later that there is a guy above Echo, and he is not one to be messed with.

Earlier in the episode, during flashbacks to Echo’s childhood, her father and uncle drop her off at karate class. Echo’s father informs her that her uncle will pick her up after class is over. Then, without seeing his face, Echo’s uncle approaches her, pinches her cheek, laughs, and walks away. And we can’t be the only ones who recognized that deep laugh.

Even before Hawkeye Episode 3, many fans believed that Kingpin would appear because of his connection to Echo in the comic books. Now, they have more reason to think that Vincent D’Onofrio, who played Kingpin in Daredevil, is back in the MCU.

Is Kingpin Echo’s uncle in the comic books?

It seems as though Hawkeye is switching up the comic book narrative a little bit because, originally, Kingpin, aka Wilson Fisk, is Echo’s adoptive father, not her uncle.

In the comics, Fisk kills Echo’s father. The villain raises her as his own daughter, as per her father’s dying wish. However, when she’s older, Echo falls in love with Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, and she turns on Kingpin.

We’ll have to see if and how Kingpin and Echo’s story unravels in Hawkeye. But all of the signs regarding Echo’s uncle point to a familiar face from Daredevil.

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Vincent D’Onofrio wants to return to the MCU

Since Echo is known to have a connection to Kingpin in the comic books, ComicBook.com asked Hawkeye producer Trinh Tran if Vincent D’Onofrio would be reprising his MCU role.

“Well, Maya Lopez is cool. She’s such a badass in the comics and we wanted to make sure that that was portrayed as well,” Tran said. “I can’t go into details in terms of like how she’s integrated into, you know, the story. I don’t want to spoil anything.”

During a different ComicBook.com interview, D’Onofrio expressed his desire to return to the MCU. He said, “I do feel very close to that character just for like nostalgia and just connected to that character through my performance. So I think that any offer to play him again would be, I would definitely have a really good look at for sure.”

Hawkeye airs Wednesdays on Disney+.

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