Jeremy Renner has confirmed that he will not reprise his role as Hawkeye in Avengers: Doomsday, the upcoming Marvel superhero film expected to bring together several major characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, the actor has responded to his absence with humor, suggesting that the Avengers could be in serious trouble without his character on the team.
During a recent interview, Renner was asked whether he would appear in the highly anticipated movie. He quickly ruled out the possibility before joking that the superhero team might struggle to defeat its enemies without him.
“No, no, no, no. Not in that one,” said Renner when asked if he was returning for “Doomsday” in a recent interview. “’Doomsday’ I’m not in, so the Avengers will probably lose, just so you know… they didn’t call me, so it’s their fault. They’re going to lose.”
Although his comments were clearly playful, they confirm that Renner will not be returning as Clint Barton, the character better known as Hawkeye, for Avengers: Doomsday. Hawkeye is one of the original Avengers in the Marvel films, recognized for his exceptional archery skills, combat experience and ability to hold his own alongside teammates with superhuman abilities.
Renner first appeared as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thor (2011), before taking on a more prominent role in The Avengers (2012). He later returned in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016), as well as Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also starred in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which explored the character's life beyond his work with the Avengers.
Unlike superheroes such as Thor, Hulk and Captain Marvel, Hawkeye does not possess extraordinary powers. Instead, he relies on precision, tactical thinking and years of combat experience. His skills have nevertheless made him a valuable member of the team, and his relationships with other Avengers have played an important role in several of the franchise's most emotional moments.
One of Hawkeye's most significant appearances came in Avengers: Endgame, where Clint Barton struggled with the loss of his family following Thanos' devastating actions. His grief pushed him toward a darker path before he eventually reunited with his fellow heroes. The film also featured one of the franchise's most memorable confrontations involving Hawkeye and Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson.
While Renner will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, he has expressed enthusiasm about the return of Avengers: Endgame to cinemas ahead of the next Avengers film. The re-release gives fans another opportunity to revisit the 2019 blockbuster, which brought together characters from across the MCU for a decisive battle against Thanos.
Renner's comments may disappoint fans hoping to see Hawkeye reunite with the Avengers on the big screen, particularly given the character's long history within the franchise. However, the actor has previously made it clear that he remains interested in returning to the Marvel universe if the right opportunity arises.
In 2025, Renner spoke positively about the possibility of reprising his role, whether through a second season of Hawkeye or another Marvel project. At the time, he emphasized his affection for the character and the people he had worked with throughout his time in the franchise.
“I’m always happy to be in that world, man. I love all those guys, I love the character,” Renner told Empire. “I’m sure we’ll end up doing Season 2 [of ‘Hawkeye’], and do other things. And I’m happy to do it. My body’s getting ready for something like that. I don’t know if anybody wants to see me in tights, but my body will look good in the tights.”
His remarks suggested that he had not closed the door on future Marvel appearances. Instead, he appeared willing to return if the studio developed a project that made sense for the character and his circumstances.
Renner's physical recovery has been particularly important to any discussion about his future in action films. In January 2023, the actor suffered life-threatening injuries in a snowmobile accident near his home in Nevada. He was attempting to help a family member whose vehicle had become stuck in the snow when a heavy Sno-Cat snowplow began moving and ran over him.
The machine weighed at least 14,330 pounds, according to reports cited at the time. Renner sustained extensive injuries, including multiple broken ribs, fractures to his legs and ankles, a broken right clavicle and a broken right shoulder. His injuries required extensive medical treatment and a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The accident raised serious questions about whether Renner would be able to return to the physically demanding roles that had defined much of his career. His recovery involved rebuilding his strength and mobility after an incident that could easily have ended his acting career.
By 2025, however, Renner said he had recovered “more than 150%” from the accident. He also indicated that he felt physically prepared to take on the demands of playing Hawkeye again, including performing action sequences and stunts.
His progress was an encouraging development for fans who had followed his recovery. Renner's willingness to discuss returning to demanding roles also demonstrated that he remained interested in continuing his career rather than allowing the accident to define his future.
Still, his absence from Avengers: Doomsday does not necessarily mean Hawkeye's story in the MCU has permanently ended. Renner's earlier comments show that he remains open to future appearances, although there is no confirmation that he will return in a later Marvel production.
Marvel has kept many details about the full cast and storyline of Avengers: Doomsday under wraps, leaving fans to speculate about which heroes will appear and how the film will connect to previous entries in the franchise. The movie is scheduled for release on December 18, and anticipation has continued to build around the next chapter of the Avengers story.
For now, Renner appears content to take his absence in stride. His joke that the Avengers will probably lose without Hawkeye gives fans a humorous response to the casting news, while his earlier comments leave open the possibility of seeing Clint Barton return in another Marvel project.
Whether the team can survive the next major threat without Hawkeye remains to be seen. But if Renner's comments are any indication, he is happy to remind Marvel that leaving him out was its decision, not his.
