Jeremy Renner Says Marvel Never Called, and Joked That the Avengers Will Probably Lose Without Hawkeye in ‘Doomsday’
Few original Avengers have had a more distinctive journey than Clint Barton. Jeremy Renner’s archer has been a steady presence since the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, standing alongside gods, billionaires and super-soldiers with nothing but a bow and a sense of humor. That makes his absence from the next big team-up one of the most talked-about omissions in Marvel fandom.
Renner played Clint Barton across four ‘Avengers’ films and the ‘Hawkeye’ series, which paired him with Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop. When Marvel revealed the cast for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ in its chair-reveal event, many returning heroes were announced, but Renner was not among them. Since then, fans have been left wondering whether his name would eventually surface.
Now Renner has addressed it directly, with his trademark humor. During an appearance at Comic Con Liverpool, the actor confirmed that Hawkeye isn’t in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and joked that the Avengers will probably lose because of it. He also said Marvel didn’t call him, so the fault is theirs.
Jeremy Renner says that he will not return as Hawkeye in ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’. “I’m not in it, so the Avengers will probably lose, just so you know… [Marvel] didn’t call me, so it’s their fault. They’re going to lose.” https://t.co/jb3ixGLGYy
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 12, 2026
Renner delivered the line playfully, and it landed as a tongue-in-cheek jab rather than a complaint. He didn’t give any specific reason for the absence beyond saying that he wasn’t contacted. The tone suggests he’s at peace with the situation, even if fans are not.
His comment also seems to confirm what he said a year earlier. On The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 FM, he answered a flat no when asked whether he would appear in ‘Doomsday’ or ‘Avengers: Secret Wars,’ adding that he was pretty busy himself. When host Charlamagne tha God joked that Marvel could simply introduce a Hawkeye variant from another universe, Renner laughed and said they could go ahead.
There’s no official explanation. One scooper has claimed that Clint is retired in the current storyline, though he admitted he didn’t know whether the character would be back. Renner has previously suggested that Hawkeye is the kind of hero who always comes out of retirement.
Speaking to ComicBook.com, he said that until he’s killed, he’s always gonna be working. That makes the current situation more puzzling, since fans expected the archer to answer the call for a crossover of this scale. It’s also possible that Marvel is keeping plans secret, as Kevin Feige has teased that not every cast member has been revealed.
Renner has also been open about the state of his future with Marvel. He confirmed that the studio offered him half the pay for a second season of ‘Hawkeye,’ and he said that while he would love to do it, the role takes a lot of physical work to return to. He has also pointed to timing as a factor, saying he may not have been ready last year.
That candor follows his serious 2023 snowplow accident, which he has spoken about openly during his recovery. He has said he’s getting his body ready to play the character again. At various points, he has also said he’s sure a second season of ‘Hawkeye’ will eventually happen.
There is a twist that complicates the picture. Renner has been confirmed to return as Hawkeye for ‘Avengers Infinity Defense,’ one of the new attractions at Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. He also shared an Instagram Story of the costume in August, while ‘Doomsday’ was undergoing additional photography, which reignited speculation.
That doesn’t mean he’s in the film, and his own comments suggest otherwise. Still, it shows that the relationship between the actor and the studio remains active. The costume is clearly still close at hand.
He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026
Some outlets have speculated that Renner could return for ‘Secret Wars,’ which is dated for December 17, 2027, though that isn’t confirmed. ‘Doomsday’ arrives on December 18 under the direction of the Russo brothers. With so many surprises reported, it’s too early to rule out any cameo.
For now, Renner’s message is clear, and it comes with a smile. If the heroes fall short in December, he’ll have an easy explanation. Whether Marvel eventually picks up the phone remains to be seen.
Should Hawkeye return in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars?
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