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Willa Rowe is a contributing writer at Polygon, covering games and entertainment. She is a New York-based journalist and critic whose work has been featured in Kotaku, Digital Trends, the A.V. Club, GamesRadar+, and more. She also co-hosts the Girl Mode podcast.
Hawkeye may return, just not in Avengers: Doomsday
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The last time we saw Jeremy Renner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was way back in 2021 in the remarkably charming Hawkeye. Since a second season of the show never materialized, the likelihood of Renner returning to the role of Clint Barton has dwindled dramatically. But now the actor is teasing a new Avengers-related project.
Renner recently posted a photo on social media showing a set of The West Coast Avengers comic books. The California-based team first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1984 as an offshoot of the Avengers, who operated out of New York. Hawkeye is a founding member, and the team has also included Mockingbird, Wonder Man, Tigra, War Machine and Vision.
A West Coast Avengers project could offer several MCU characters the chance to return. Wonder Man debuted in the MCU just this year in a critically acclaimed series that Disney has since canceled. Paul Betany is currently playing Vision in VisionQuest. The latest incarnation of the West Coast Avengers was led by Kate Bishop, the other Hawkeye who appeared alongside Renner in 2021 played by Hailee Steinfeld. It also included America Chavez, who Xochitl Gomez played in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It doesn't seem like we are ever actually getting a Young Avengers series, so West Coast Avengers could help fill that void.
Why did we never get Hawkeye season 2?
There were discussions about making a second season of Hawkeye, but they fell apart due to several issues. A 2023 accident left Renner with numerous broken bones. In 2025, Renner said that he was offered half of his season 1 salary for season 2, which he felt was an insult. "We didn’t see eye to eye on that, sadly,” he said on High Performance, "I still love the character, I’d still love to do it, but I had to defend myself."
Renner has continued to state he would be open to playing Hawkeye in other projects. While plenty of MCU veterans are set to appear in this year's Avengers: Doomsday, Renner claims he isn't one of them. Marvel actors are encouraged to keep secrets, though, so fans will likely not know for sure until the film is in theaters.