Hawkeye season 2 may have just gotten a very disappointing update following new comments from Marvel Cinematic Universe star Jeremy Renner. One of the original Avengers who is still active in the MCU is Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, after the Multiverse Saga finally gave him his own project in the form of a Disney+ show. Following the well-received season 1 in 2021, many have wanted to see Hawkeye season 2 come to fruition.
During a new interview with High Performance, Renner revealed that while he had been asked to do Hawkeye season 2, he turned it down. The reason for him passing on returning for Hawkeye season 2 seems to be due to the MCU veteran only being offered half of his season 1 salary, as he shared the following:
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. 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.’
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. 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 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.
At the time of this story’s publication, Disney and Marvel Studios have not responded to Renner’s Hawkeye season 2 comments. There are also currently no announced plans for when Renner will return in the MCU as Hawkeye.
Given that Renner has been with the MCU since Phase 1, his comments are very shocking to hear, especially as he is one of the leads of the Hawkeye TV show, which makes his salary offer incredibly questionable. However, it’s worth taking into account that just because he has passed on Hawkeye season 2 for the time being, Renner made it clear that he would be open to returning to the series if he was offered the same as in season 1. Whether or not Marvel Studios and Disney will come around remains to be seen.
While Renner’s update on Hawkeye season 2 is a huge surprise, it’s crucial to remember that Disney+ has yet to officially commit to another season of the MCU TV show. In February, Marvel Studios’ Head of TV, Streaming, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, gave a new Hawkeye season 2 update, specifying that the series “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.” However, that never meant that Hawkeye season 2 had been formally greenlit by Marvel Studios and Disney+.
It’s also worth noting that television shows historically have much lower budgets than movies, especially blockbuster movies like the MCU, so the salary offer could’ve been reflective of Marvel’s change in how they produce TV. Previously, they’d been producing their TV shows similarly to movies, and the budgets were also comparable. Since the Marvel TV overhaul in 2023, the studio has moved to a more standard television production process, which may have led to the lower salary offer. However, the exact reason remains to be seen, and Renner suggested it was due to his injury.
Hearing that the initial offer to Renner for Hawkeye season 2 was so low, it’s incredibly disappointing to see, especially since the MCU star has been part of the franchise since the beginning. With the great dynamic between Clint and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop, it would be phenomenal to see Hawkeye season 2 happen – if Renner can get paid properly. Hopefully, Marvel Studios and Disney will reconsider and work it out with Renner in order to make Hawkeye season 2 happen – but if it’s a result of lower TV budgets, it may not be possible.
Hawkeye
7/10
- Release Date
-
2021 – 2020
- Writers
-
Don Heck, Jonathan Igla
Upcoming MCU Movies
Source: High Performance/TikTok