Marvel Studios has officially dated two more Marvel Cinematic Universe shows for 2023 release dates, as Loki season 2 and Echo are both confirmed. After giving audiences an abundance of Disney+ shows over the last two years, Marvel ultimately decided to slow down their output moving forward to give each project more space. This came after announcing four live-action MCU shows would release in 2023, but so far Secret Invasion‘s launch in June was the only one to include an official release date. This left questions about when Loki season 2, Echo, and Ironheart would release.
It has now been officially confirmed that Loki season 2 and the Hawkeye spinoff Echo are releasing on Disney+ in 2023. Marvel Studios confirmed Loki season 2 begins streaming on October 6, while all episodes of Echo drop at once on November 29.
The confirmation of Loki season 2 and Echo‘s release dates mean all three MCU shows for 2023 should be known. Secret Invasion kicks off the run on June 21 and will release new episodes through the end of July. Loki season 2 will then release on October 6 and run through early November, while Echo will be released in its entirety on November 29. Loki season 2’s release marks a return to Friday releases for Marvel’s Disney+ shows, shifting away from Wednesday.
How Loki Season 2 & Echo’s Release Dates Fit Into The Phase 5 Slate
Now that Marvel Studios has dated Loki season 2 and Echo, the full 2023 MCU slate is known for the rest of the year. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in the midst of its great box office run and will remain the only piece of new MCU content until Secret Invasion arrives in June. The Nick Fury-led show will put an end to an eight-month gap between new MCU shows on Disney+. The confirmation that Loki season 2 releases in October means that audiences will not have to wait nearly as long for the next one.
The timing of Loki season 2’s release date does present one hurdle for Marvel Studios. If every new episode of the show releases on Friday like the premiere is now confirmed to do, the six-episode series means that it should conclude on November 10, 2023. The problem with that for the MCU is that is the same date that The Marvels releases in theaters. This likely means that at some point during Loki season 2’s streaming release audiences will be treated to two episodes on the same day or the finale could be moved up a few days to avoid directly competing with The Marvels.
Echo‘s release now positions it as the final MCU project of 2023. The binge streaming release model will give audiences a chance to test out a new way to watch Marvel Studios’ content. While that means it will not impact anything else coming in 2023, the reception to binging MCU shows on Disney+ could alter how Marvel releases their 2024 shows. It also means that Echo will release roughly two years after Alaqua Cox made her MCU debut as Maya Lopez.
Source: Marvel Studios
