Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) in Marvel’s AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY.
Marvel
Avengers: Doomsday has jammed a few dozen superheroes into the upcoming film, who will unite to take on Doctor Doom in addition to having a few skirmishes among themselves. There are, however, some rather high-profile characters missing. One may be returning to the fold, according to a new social media tease.
Jeremy Renner just posted an Instagram story showing a Hawkeye suit, alongside “Hawkeye theme” music. The last time we saw Renner suit up as Hawkeye was in the self-named series that aired in 2021 where he trained a replacement, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop. Despite positive feedback and a connection to the currently airing Daredevil corner of Marvel, it never returned.
There are new reports that Disney is still shooting Doomsday footage and adding more cameos to the movie late in the game. This is unconfirmed, but the timing is awfully curious aligned with Renner’s story. He is a part of the “original six” Avengers, and the only one without a real excuse not to be there:
- Captain America – Stever Rogers is back, even if doesn’t have the mantle or shield.
- Iron Man – Blew himself up but now Robert Downey Jr. is back as Doom, and it’s not clear how or if he’s still related to Iron Man.
- Thor – Back, never left. Never died. The most persistent Avenger.
- Black Widow – Very much died. Had a prequel movie, but has now been replaced by her sister Yelena Belova, who, as of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, is being referred to as Black Widow.
- Hulk – As of Brand New Day, has transformed into a full-on monstrous version at long last, no more Smart Hulk. After a rampage, Bruce Banner is in lockdown.
- Hawkeye – He retired? The events of Hawkeye don’t really have a hard bookend for his character. Kate Bishop could serve as a replacement, but it’s not as if there’s a specific reason for him to be unable to show up for his old team.
Personally, I would much rather see all of this leading to Hawkeye season 2 rather than Renner getting a brief cameo in Doomsday. Marvel kills practically all of its shows, even its good ones, after one season (most recently, the renewed-then-cancelled-Wonder Man). Hawkeye had more of a reason to return than any of them. A star Avenger, an excellent casting grab in the form of Oscar-nominee Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate. Integration with Daredevil’s Kingpin, Swordsman and more. It even had a Yelena Belova cameo and the chemistry between her and Bishop was excellent. Renner himself has talked about season 2 of the show, but that would have also come with a pay cut he rejected.
Renner’s absence from the MCU is not necessarily just due to no plans for his character. Renner was involved in a highly publicized accident in 2023 when he was accidentally run over by a 14,000 snowplow, breaking dozens of bones and nearly dying. He has since returned to acting in projects like Wake Up Dead Man and Mayor of Kingstown.
Of course, it could be nothing. Perhaps a request more than an announcement, something to get fans excited to see him return. But it’s true that unlike many other Marvel characters, Hawkeye has no real reason to sit out a crisis this big as one of the only remaining OG Avengers. We’ll see.
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