While Marvel fans held out hope for Clint Barton’s return, Jeremy Renner has officially declined to appear in Hawkeye season 2 — and the reason cuts deeper than a trick arrow. In a new interview with High Performance, Renner revealed that Marvel offered him half the salary he received for the first season, a move he saw as both insulting and unnecessary.
"I was just like, 'I’m not going to do it. I think it’s really unfair," Renner said bluntly.
Coming off a life-threatening snowplow accident in 2023 that left him with over 30 broken bones, the actor has spent the past two years focused on healing. But he suspects the studio’s decision to slash his pay stems from doubts about his physical recovery.
"They wanted to see if I was going to be OK," he added. "There’s a continued hope to maybe do some more stuff."
Despite the setback, Renner emphasized that he still loves the character and values what Hawkeye represents in the MCU. He also praised Marvel for their support during his recovery, noting that they were "amazing" in giving him time to heal — but that goodwill didn’t extend to the contract table.
For now, Clint Barton’s bow remains unstrung, and fans may have to accept that Hawkeye’s last shot has already been fired.
