I think we can all agree that Marvel Studios has made some pretty great casting choices since the inception of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that of course includes the original six members of the Avengers. However, things almost turned out quite differently for the Earth's Mightiest Heroes and according to Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner, he had his inhibitions about committing to the billion-dollar franchise.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the star of Marvel's newest live-action spinoff series Hawkeye candidly revealed that while he was a huge fan of what Kevin Feige and the folks over at Marvel Studios are doing, the idea of having to sign a multi-picture deal that would've required him to stay in the franchise for years didn't appeal to him at first.
Renner explains: "I remember going in to talk with [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige and [Marvel Studios co-president] Lou D’Esposito, and they’d show me the Ultimates version of Hawkeye. Iron Man had come out, and I said, ‘I’m into what you guys are doing because I loved Iron Man. I like how you made Iron Man plausible. So that’s where they wanted to go with [Hawkeye]."
He added: "I’m like, ‘Great!’ You gotta kinda sign on for a bunch of Avengers films and potential Hawkeye films, kind of sign your life away. I’m like, ‘Wait, I might be 50 in tights.”… That was my main concern. I’m like, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this. I don’t know if anyone wants to see me in tights at 50.’"
Also Read: Hawkeye: Marvel Fans Boycott Series in Support of Poorly Compensated Artist
Thankfully, Renner was ultimately convinced to join the franchise, and frankly speaking, he made the right call. Now, we don't know for sure whether or not he's sticking around in the MCU but it's quite obvious that Hawkeye is setting up Clint Barton's exit in the franchise.
Meanwhile, the first two episodes of Marvel Studios' Hawkeye are now available for streaming on Disney+.
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