Jeremy Renner to Play Hawkeye in Avengers?

Published by Jeff Leins on: November 27th, 2009

The Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner may be up for a small recurring role in Marvel’s superhero slate, including 2012’s The Avengers.

In an interview with Empire, the magazine asked about him possibly filling the un-cast Captain America role, but another name came up instead.  “I met with the Marvel guys, actually, but we didn’t talk about Captain America. But one of the writers, Zak Penn, we’ve become friends over time and he was thinking maybe Hawkeye could be interesting. He sounds like an interesting character.”

In the comics, Clint Barton a.k.a Hawkeye doesn’t have any super powers, but he’s a trained acrobat and master marksman with a quiver of “trick arrows.”  He’s inspired by Iron Man to become a costumed hero and later falls in love with Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson).  Hawkeye becomes a member of the Avengers by breaking into their mansion.

Renner’s quote is certainly not a confirmation of his involvement, but this is the first we’ve heard about Hawkeye being a part of the Avengers movie.  (Even though the character has been a part of the comic book team since 1965.)  Up until now the Avengers film was to include Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Captain America (unknown), and the Black Widow (Johnasson).  However, the Hulk is looking like a longshot.

Then Renner discusses what to expect if he “was a betting man.”  Since Hawkeye isn’t getting his own stand-alone film, like the rest of the Avengers, Marvel is looking to introduce the character in another origin story.  The Captain America introduction is rumored to take place circa World War II and Iron Man 2 is nearing completion in the edit bay, which leaves only one more Marvel property before the Avengers’ assemble on May 4, 2012.  “I would bet that Hawkeye would probably show up in Thor, and then be in The Avengers,” Renner said.

I’m glad the underrated Renner is being noticed for his star-making part in Hurt Locker, a film that seems bound for an Oscar nomination or two.  He was being considered for the lead in Mad Max: Fury Road before the part went to Tom Hardy.  Now a part in a few major Marvel franchises with the potential to spin-off into his own adventure.