Jeremy Renner says he turned down the opportunity to return as Clint Barton in Hawkeye Season 2 after being offered just “half” of what he earned for the first season. In a new interview on the High Performance podcast, the actor criticized the compensation provided by Disney and described it as an “insult.”
“They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money,” Renner said. “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.”
Did His Accident Influence the Offer?
Renner, who almost died when he was struck by a 2023 snowplow accident and suffered multiple broken bones, suggested that the lowball offer could be attributed to his injuries.
“I’m like, ‘I’m sorry? Why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over?’” he said. “Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season.”
“Told Them to Go Fly a Kite”
Although Renner said he didn’t believe Marvel Studios made the offer directly, he blamed Disney’s accountants for the negotiation breakdown.
“This is not Marvel, mind you. It’s just the penny pinchers, the accountants. I told them to go fly a kite,” he said. “Just at the insult offer. So we didn’t see eye to eye on it.”
Hawkeye debuted on Disney+ in 2021, with Hailee Steinfeld and Florence Pugh co-starring. There has been no official renewal, but a second season has been rumored.
Still Interested, But Not at Any Cost
Despite the stalled talks, Renner expressed continued affection for the role.
“Sadly, I still love the character. I’d still love to do it, but I had to defend myself,” he said. “I didn’t ask for any more money. Just pay me what I made the first season.”
He added, “It’s all disheartening that that didn’t happen, but that’s fine. My body’s probably thanking me, time and time again, that I’m not doing it right now. But we’ll see.”
Salary Disputes Becoming a Pattern in the MCU
Renner isn’t the only actor to raise concerns about compensation in the Marvel universe. Actress Carrie Coon recently revealed she declined to return as Proxima Midnight in Avengers: Endgame after being offered no raise following the success of Infinity War.
As Disney and Marvel face increased scrutiny over talent negotiations, Renner’s comments highlight a growing trend in the industry, where even major franchise stars are pushing back over what they consider unfair pay cuts.
