Jeremy Renner Opens Up About Hawkeye Season 2 Snub
In a recent interview, Jeremy Renner revealed that he was offered a significantly reduced salary to reprise his role as Clint Barton in a second season of the Disney+ series Hawkeye. According to Renner, he was offered "half" of his original salary, which he deemed an insult.
Renner, who has played the titular Avenger across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, spoke about the reason behind Hawkeye not getting a second season in an interview with High Performance. The actor claimed that he was asked to continue playing Clint Barton, but the offer was not financially viable. "They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money," Renner said. "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.’"
Renner suggested that his salary was slashed in half due to his near-fatal accident in 2023. He expressed his disappointment and frustration with the offer, stating, "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 attributed the decision to "the penny pinchers – the accountants," rather than Marvel or Disney.
The actor reportedly told the producers to "go fly a kite" following the "insult offer," adding, "So, we didn’t see eye to eye on that, sadly. I still love the character, I’d still love to do it but I had to defend myself." Renner noted that he didn’t ask for more money for the second season of Hawkeye and only wanted them to match what they paid him for the first season.
According to Deadline, which first reported on Renner’s interview, the actor seemed to take the snub in stride, stating, "It was a little disheartening that it didn’t happen, but that’s fine. 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."
A Disney insider disputed Renner’s claims, but failed to provide specifics. Despite the disagreement, Renner’s comments provide a glimpse into the negotiations that took place behind the scenes. As reported by Deadline, Renner’s Hawkeye co-star, Hailee Steinfeld, has expressed her own interest in reprising her role as Kate Bishop in a potential second season.
Renner’s comments are a reminder that even the biggest stars are not immune to the financial realities of the entertainment industry. As reported by Deadline, the actor’s decision to turn down the offer was likely influenced by his own personal and professional priorities. While it remains to be seen whether Hawkeye will get a second season, one thing is certain – Jeremy Renner will not be returning at a reduced salary.
This is according to an interview with Jeremy Renner, as reported by Deadline.
