Jeremy Renner discusses possible 'Hawkeye' Season 2 and how recovery fueled his return
Jeremy Renner is preparing to step back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, hinting that Clint Barton’s journey may not be over just yet. Speaking to Empire magazine, the actor said he’s “sure we’ll end up doing season two” of Hawkeye, the Disney+ series that gave his long-running Marvel character a leading role.
Jeremy Renner discusses preparing for a Hawkeye Season 2 return, MCU future, and the physical demands of portraying Clint Barton after recovery.
Zade Rosenthal/©walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
The possibility of a second season has been the subject of much speculation. Renner previously revealed that he turned down an initial offer due to a significant proposed pay cut. According to him, Marvel’s reduced offer came in the aftermath of his near-fatal 2023 snowplow accident, raising questions about how the studio viewed his physical condition.
“I’m like, wow, it’s going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money—eight months of my time, essentially—and you do it for half the amount?” he said, recalling the conversation. “I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over?’”
Renner said that despite lingering physical challenges, he’s focused on building the strength needed to return as Hawkeye. “My body’s getting ready for something like that,” he shared. “I don’t know if anybody wants to see me in tights, but my body will look good in the tights.”
His dedication to recovery has been intense and deeply personal. After being “pronounced dead on the ice,” as he described it, Renner embraced health and wellness as a core part of his life. That shift in lifestyle, he explained, has been essential to his progress.
“I’m more than 150 percent of what I was prior to the incident,” he said. “I have some issues, tendon issues and certain limitations of flexibility and mobility, but I spent a lot of time on getting better and stronger, and I wouldn’t if I didn’t get crushed.”
Renner first portrayed Clint Barton in The Avengers (2012) and became a staple of the MCU through subsequent appearances in major crossover films. Most recently, archival footage of the character appeared in Disney+’s Echo (2024), though the character has remained absent from new storylines since the first season of Hawkeye aired in 2021.
The actor, who also authored the memoir My Next Breath, appears eager to bring more depth to Barton’s story, whether through a new season or other Marvel projects.
