Jeremy Renner Says He Isn’t in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and Jokes the Avengers Will Probably Lose Without Hawkeye
Jeremy Renner says Hawkeye won’t be joining the fight in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday, and he thinks the team is making a pretty big mistake by leaving him out. In fact, the actor jokingly predicts that the Avengers are going to lose against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom without their expert archer around to help save the day.
During a recent Q&A, Renner was asked whether he would be returning as Clint Barton in the upcoming Marvel movie. His response was pretty straightforward.
"No, no, no, no. Not in that one," Renner said, before adding, "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."
During the exchange, an audience member shouted "again," apparently referencing Avengers: Infinity War, where Earth's Mightiest Heroes suffered a devastating defeat against Thanos.
Hawkeye was noticeably absent from that movie, and we all know how things turned out. Thanos collected the Infinity Stones, snapped his fingers, and wiped out half the universe.
Renner returned for Avengers: Endgame, where Hawkeye played an important role in helping the Avengers finally defeat the Mad Titan. So, based on the team's track record, maybe Marvel should reconsider leaving Clint Barton on the sidelines.
Of course, plenty of fans aren't buying Renner's denial. His potential involvement in Doomsday has been rumored for quite some time, and some believe he's simply keeping his return a secret.
There's also the possibility that Renner is being completely truthful about Doomsday while still having a role in Avengers: Secret Wars. Rumors have suggested Hawkeye could return for the sixth Avengers movie, and Renner's specific wording, "Not in that one," has fans wondering whether he's leaving the door open for an appearance in Secret Wars.
Marvel certainly has a history of keeping major character appearances under wraps, and there's reason to believe the studio still has a few surprises planned.
During an Avengers: Endgame Encore Q&A, co-director Anthony Russo confirmed that Marvel hasn't revealed everyone involved in Doomsday, saying: "The cast is so large, and we've announced some of the cast, and we haven't announced some of the cast."
That leaves plenty of room for unexpected appearances, although it doesn't necessarily mean Hawkeye is among them. Even Paul Bettany, who plays Vision in the MCU, recently demonstrated just how careful Marvel actors have to be when discussing their involvement in upcoming projects.
When asked about appearing in Doomsday during an interview with Good Morning America, Bettany joked that answering the question would get him "get fired."
As for the characters we know are returning, Avengers: Doomsday already has an enormous roster. With all of these Marvel heroes coming together, it's hard to imagine Hawkeye wouldn't be useful, especially when they're facing a villain as dangerous as Doctor Doom.
Whether Renner is telling the truth or having some fun with fans remains to be seen. Personally, I'd love to see Clint Barton return for at least another big Avengers adventure. He's been part of the team since the early days of the MCU, and it would be great to have him back alongside the other original Avengers.
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.