Jeremy Renner is one of the most experienced actors in the MCU franchise. Renner made his debut in 2011’s Thor, as agent Clint Barton, a.k.a Hawkeye. He would eventually become one of the first members of the original Avengers team, appearing in three of the four Avengers films, and in 2021 would finally star in his first solo Marvel series, Hawkeye.
Fans were uncertain about Clint’s MCU future at the MCU after Hawkeye. The series developed Clint and Kate Bishop’s (Hailee Steinfeld) bond overtime in the series, leading many to assume Hailee Steinfeld would assume Hawkeye’s role. Many thought that Kate would become the next Hawkeye and Clint would finish his saga and return to his quiet family life.
The series ended with Kate at Clint’s house for Christmas, and all seemed well. That shot hinted, that Clint would continue to help Kate grow as a hero until she is ready for independence. Renner has taken a moment to reflect on the journey he has traveled, as well as the relationships he has made since joining the MCU.
Jeremy Renner Looks Back At His Journey
Renner talked about his journey as Hawkeye on the podcast Armchair Expert. In the interview, Renner described his 11 years of experience in the franchise, specifically with the actors of the original six Avengers.
“The greatest thing that ever came from the last 11 years of the Marvel world for me, or even all of us, is the original A6 that have been along the whole journey. There’s been marriages and divorces, and kids being born, and a lot of shifts and changes in our personal lives as well as our acting lives that we all shared together in a very specific way”.
Jeremy remarked that the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes were ‘like family ‘ and got matching tattoos to commemorate that time.
“All of them, they’re like family to me. You can’t replace that or quantify it, and we all got tattoos together just to symbolize our bond and love.”
The actor then continued to say that becoming a celebrity within the Marvel universe has been a “different kind of journey,” one he remains thankful for and cherishes.
“Its like, five other people speak the same language, you’re going to talk with them a little bit better, right? Because everybody is a celebrity in their own right, but a Marvel celebrity, especially the original six, has just been a different kind of journey.”
Hawkeye, Clint and Renner
As someone who has been part of the franchise since Phase 1, it is reassuring and heartwarming to hear Jeremy Renner speak so enthusiastically about the franchise. His time with the franchise over the past 11 years has been nothing but positive. Actors from other franchises have also expressed how much they enjoy the MCU and the characters that they have played. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience just to be a part of the franchise, much less stay for so long.
Renner is truly one cornerstone of what has become the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even though he has had relatively minor roles until Avengers: Endgame and Hawkeye. As part of that original team, Clint Barton was crucial, and it is extremely pleasing to see that he has treated Renner the same way he has treated the character.
