Jeremy Renner has opened up about why a second season of Hawkeye hasn’t materialized, pointing to a disappointing contract offer and lingering effects from his 2023 accident.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Renner revealed that he was approached to return as Clint Barton in a follow-up to the popular Disney+ series but was offered only half the salary he earned for the first season. “They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money,” Renner explained. “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.’”
Jeremy Renner Gets Honest About The Future Of ‘HawkEye’
Renner suggested that the reduced offer may have been connected to the life-threatening injuries he sustained in January 2023. “I’m like, ‘I’m sorry? Why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over? Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season,’” he said.
The actor was critically injured when a Sno-Cat — a 14,330-pound snowplow — ran over him near his Lake Tahoe home. He had been helping his nephew when the incident occurred, resulting in extensive injuries: eight ribs broken in 14 places, a broken right knee and ankle, a fractured left leg tibia and ankle, and breaks to his right clavicle and shoulder.
Renner emphasized that the offer came from Disney accountants rather than 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,” he said. “I told them to go fly a kite. I mean, just at the insult offer. So we didn’t see eye to eye on it.”
Despite the setback, Renner hasn’t shut the door on the character. “Sadly, I still love the character. I’d still love to do it, but I had to defend myself,” he added. “I didn’t ask for any more money, mind you. Just pay me what I made the first season. So it’s all disheartening that that didn’t happen, but that’s fine.”
Renner concluded with a sense of peace about the situation, acknowledging the physical toll the role might have taken. “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.”
The first season of Hawkeye, co-starring Hailee Steinfeld and Florence Pugh, premiered on Disney+ in late 2021. Marvel has not responded to Variety’s request for comment.
