Wisconsin
Menominee actresses from Wisconsin, Alaqua Cox and Darnell Besaw, star in new Disney/Marvel series ‘Echo’
Marvel’s ‘Echo’: Disney+ series stars Alaqua Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio
Alaqua Cox stars as Maya Lopez in the new Marvel series “Echo,” which also features “Daredevil” fan favorites Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox.
Alaqua Cox, the Menominee Nation actress from Wisconsin who starred alongside Jeremy Renner in the Marvel series “Hawkeye” on Disney+, has her own spinoff series, “Echo,” being released Tuesday, also on Disney+.
In “Hawkeye,” which came out in 2021, Cox made history as the first live-action Native American Marvel superhero for her role as Maya Lopez, aka Echo.
“I just can’t believe that the Native American community can have a Native American superhero,” Cox, 26, said in a recent “Echo” promotional ad.
The studio had been looking for a young, athletic Native American actress who’s deaf to play the role as a conflicted villain to Renner’s Avengers character Hawkeye.
Cox was hesitant to audition, at first, but was encouraged by family and friends who said she’d be perfect for it. She had no acting experience, but took her shot and landed the role.
“This is our chance to uplift Indigenous voices and let the world know that we’re still here,” Cox said.
Cox was born deaf, grew up in Menominee County and attended the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in Delavan. She also has a prosthetic leg, but performs many of her own “Echo” stunts.
The 26-year-old Cox is Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican from northeast Wisconsin, but her character is Choctaw, a tribal nation that has a reservation in Oklahoma.
The studio worked closely with the Choctaw Nation in creating the series and episodes are directed by Sydney Freeland, who’s Navajo, and Catriona McKenzie, who’s Gunaikurnai, an Indigenous people of Australia.
Several Menominee and Mohican people from Wisconsin also were cast as background characters in the series.
Cox’s cousin from Menominee, Darnell Besaw, 10, plays a young Maya Lopez in four episodes. She also was in “Hawkeye.”
Cox’s great uncle, Douglas Cox, is a former Menominee Nation chairman and the current director of land management for the tribe. He said the two Menominee actors are an inspiration and a source of pride for Indigenous people throughout Indian Country, not just on the Menominee Reservation.
“The people in the Menominee, Mohican and surrounding communities have been nothing but supportive of the new Native actresses and their newfound fame,” said Darnell’s mom, Lindsay Besaw.
She said her family has been excited for the opportunity.
“The experience was amazing for Darnell,” Besaw said. “I don’t think she is aware of the magnitude just yet. She was able to meet some very influential Native actors (who star in the series) like Tantoo Cardinal, Graham Greene, Zahn McClarnon and Devery Jacobs.”
“Darnell also worked alongside Vincent D’Onofrio, who was super-kind and patient with her.”
But she said Darnell, called Nellie, is still the same girl from the “rez.”
“Darnell has always been a quiet girl,” Besaw said. “And she responds to fame in the same manner. We are a small community so many people already know our family. She is just a normal 10-year-old girl who keeps to herself. At school, she’s had the same group of friends since kindergarten and gets along well with everyone.”
She said Darnell is happy to take a break from filming and start her basketball season.
It was a whirlwind during filming and Besaw said there was a lot of planning and traveling.
More: Menominee actresses Alaqua Cox and Darnell Besaw star in the new Marvel ‘Hawkeye’ series on Disney+
“It can be overwhelming at times. Her dad and I have always prioritized Darnell’s health and safety,” Besaw said. “As her mother, I am going to support her wish. However, we really hope she will pique an interest in filming in the near future.”
The Besaw family recently celebrated with Alaqua Cox during a baby shower as she welcomed a new baby.
All five episodes of “Echo” will be released Tuesday on Disney+ and Hulu.
Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Marquette poll shows Wisconsin voters unfocused on governor race
A Marquette University Law School poll reveals Wisconsin voters lack focus on the governor’s race, with most undecided 5 months before the primary.
MADISON – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes is dropping out of the Democratic primary race for governor and endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Hughes, who was the most moderate candidate in the Democratic field for governor, suspended her campaign days after placing last in a straw poll of party delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention in Madison.
Her endorsement of Rodriguez comes as some Democrats are eyeing an alternative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who leans further left than current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong and Barnes are considered frontrunners in the primary race.
In a statement, Hughes flicked at the approach of Hong and other candidates to her left who have proposed significant changes to state government.
“I believe there is great hope in these small efforts to find common ground. I wanted to make sure that Wisconsinites understand we have created something valuable and that investing in ourselves and our communities is well-deserved,” Hughes said. “We do not need to tear it all down, and there is real and important work to do to improve what we already have.”
Hughes suggested Rodriguez would make more reasonable decisions as governor than her primary opponents.
“This job is about running the state, and getting things done. As you consider what is important to you, I urge you to look beyond the talking points, social media posts, and gilded promises and consider what you think is essential to do the job,” she said. “Stop asking, ‘Who will win?’ and start asking who you trust to make big decisions that impact our families and the wellbeing of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”
This developing story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
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