Jeremy Renner Declines ‘Hawkeye’ Return Over Pay Disputes and Desire To “Be A Dad.”

During an appearance on the podcast Happy Sad Confused to promote his new book My Next Breath: A Memoir, Renner revealed that Disney provided him with a salary that was only half of his initial  season earnings. The proposed salary reduction seemed unacceptable to him because he had invested his body into the  role. Renner believed his severe snowplow accident in 2023 which resulted in more than 30 broken bones might have contributed to the reduced offer he received. He asked if anyone believed he had  lost half his abilities because of the accident.   

 Renner maintained his love for the character and his willingness to return to the show if the terms become  reasonable. The problem lay with the “penny pinchers” who handled the negotiations rather than with Marvel Studios according to Renner.  

Renner stressed that his  decision to step down was mainly because of his dedication to being a father. He discussed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast how Marvel production requirements clashed with his duties as a single parent.

“It’s more the willingness to step away from things, my daughter’s a priority … it’s not even a choice. I’m gonna my a father to my daughter. If they’re gonna keep shooting in London … it’s not gonna work out. I walked away from Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible. I love Tom, I love doing those movies, it’s so fun. But I couldn’t. I had to really be a dad … I love the choice I made. I love being a dad. It’s the best role I’ve ever had and always will have and nothing compares to it … I’m still able to work and still be a dad. And now that she’s a little bit older, I can make different choices … maybe do Hawkeye again.”

Renner confirmed will not be a part of the upcoming 2026 release of Avengers: Doomsday but he has not eliminated the possibility of future Marvel Cinematic  Universe appearances. The fan base continues to wait for the right moment that will bring him back to the  franchise.