With Marvel Studios entering a critical stretch in its post-Endgame evolution, new revelations are shedding light on the fate of one key Disney+ series—and the actor who helped define it.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts* is proving to be a major box office force, tracking for a global debut between $160 to $170 million. Directed by Jake Schreier, the film concludes Phase Five and brings together characters like Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes for a mission with implications far beyond their roster.
The ensemble feature lands in the wake of a less enthusiastic reception for Captain America: Brave New World (2025), highlighting the turbulent nature of Marvel’s recent track record. Earlier entries such as 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels struggled both critically and commercially, while Disney+ projects like Secret Invasion failed to generate the same traction as earlier small-screen efforts like WandaVision and Loki.
Within this broader landscape, one series stood out for its grounded tone and character-driven narrative—Hawkeye. The six-episode limited series premiered in late 2021 and found Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton navigating a snow-covered New York during the holidays. It was a post-Avengers: Endgame (2019) story about legacy, grief, and reluctant mentorship, introducing Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop and expanding the Marvel canon with appearances from characters like Yelena Belova (Pugh) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio).
Renner’s Barton, weathered and weary, was a far cry from his earlier Avengers appearances, providing a human counterpoint to the MCU’s high-concept multiverse chaos. Yet despite the show’s character depth and modest success, a second season has yet to materialize—and now, there may be a clearer reason why.
Speaking to High Performance (via Variety), Renner disclosed that he was approached to return for a potential Season 2—but turned it down.
“They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money,” Renner said. “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.”
The Hurt Locker actor also hinted that his recovery from a near-fatal snowplow accident on New Year’s Day 2023 may have influenced the reduced offer. Renner sustained over 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung, and severe trauma to his chest and face after being run over by a 14,000-pound snowplow while trying to help his nephew.
“Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over?” Renner asked rhetorically during the High Performance interview. “Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season.”
Importantly, Renner clarified that the offer didn’t come from Marvel Studios directly.
“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 at the insult offer. So we didn’t see eye to eye on it,” Renner explained. “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.”
In the meantime, Renner has resumed his acting career with Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown and is part of the ensemble cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025). In his 2025 memoir “My Next Breath,” Renner recounts the terrifying moment.
As for the MCU, the future may belong to a new Hawkeye. Hailee Steinfeld, fresh off a standout role in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (2025), could be poised to take center stage. Her character was last seen in The Marvels, where she was recruited by Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), hinting at more Young Avengers developments.
While a second season of Hawkeye is not officially scheduled, fans still have a wide slate of upcoming Marvel content to look forward to, including Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel Zombies, Ironheart, Wonder Man, and Daredevil: Born Again Season 2.
Do you think this means Hawkeye will not return? Let us know in the comments down below!
“Hawkeye” became my family’s favorite Christmas TV series. Hawkeye, Kate, and Pizza Dog, along with Florence Pugh’s character were an ensemble that Marvel fans love and definitely want to see again and again. Not paying Jeremy Renner is insane. Bean counters can be really stupid.