Jeremy Renner Says He Turned Down ‘Hawkeye’ Season 2 After “Insult Offer”
While Marvel Studios has largely shied away from renewing their live-action streaming series for a second season (Loki and Daredevil: Born Again being the exceptions), rumors that Hawkeye Season 2 could come to fruition have continued to sound.
Earlier this year, Marvel’s head of streaming, television, and animation, Brad Winderbaum, fueled the fire by singling out Hawkeye as a series that could return in some fashion.
Photo: Marvel
“’Hawkeye’ is another one that feels like you can make a second season of that show because it’s Christmas, because it’s Clint and Kate. You can kind of revisit it whenever, and we’re looking for opportunities to do that,” he said.
Renner Turned Down Marvel’s ‘Hawkeye’ Season 2 Offer
As it turns out, Marvel may have had plans for a Hawkeye Season 2 all along. The problem is that they weren’t willing to pay Jeremy Renner.
In a recent interview with High Performance, Renner was asked about Hawkeye’s future. Shockingly, the actor revealed that Marvel wanted him to suit up for another season as the heroic archer, but they wanted to pay him half of what he made on Hawkeye Season 1.
“They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money. I’m like, ‘Well, it’s going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money, and eight months of my time, essentially, to do it for half the amount,’” he said.
The Actor Believes the Offer Was Related to His Accident
Renner pointed to his near-fatal snowplow accident in January 2023 when asked why he believed Marvel tried to lowball him.
“I’m like, ‘I’m sorry? Why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over? Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season.”
Photo: Jeremy Renner on Instagram
As Renner reflected on the Hawkeye negotiations, he emphasized that he had no ill will towards Marvel or Disney.
“This is not Marvel, mind you. This is like, just Disney, not even really Disney. It’s just the penny pinchers, the accountants. I told them to go fly a kite. I mean, just at the insult offer. So we didn’t see eye to eye on it,” he continued.
Will We See Hawkeye Again?
While it doesn’t sound like Hawkeye Season 2 is currently in the works, Renner did not rule out returning to his iconic role in the future.
Photo: Robyn Beck/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
“Sadly, I still love the character. I’d still love to do it, but I had to defend myself. I didn’t ask for any more money, mind you. Just pay me what I made made the first season. So it’s all disheartening that that didn’t happen, but that’s fine. I’m happy to let that go, because my body’s probably thanking me, time and time again, that I’m not doing it right now. But we’ll see.”
What About ‘Doomsday’?
The timing of Renner’s comments is particularly interesting, as the Marvel multiverse has descended upon London to film Avengers: Doomsday.
Based on the actor’s statements, he seems unlikely to suit up for the next Avengers adventure.
That said, it is also possible that the two sides will come together before it’s too late.
