Jeremy Renner isn’t holding back when it comes to explaining why Hawkeye season 2 still hasn’t happened — and honestly, I don’t blame him. In a new interview with High Performance, Renner revealed that he was approached to return as Clint Barton in a second season of the Disney+ show… but the offer? An insult, to put it lightly.
“They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money. I’m like, ‘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, to do it for half the amount,’” he said.
Like, what?! Half the money for the same role, same workload, and eight months of his life? That’s not just unfair — it’s borderline disrespectful. Especially considering everything Renner’s been through. Let’s not forget, the man almost died in a horrifying snowplow accident in early 2023.
Renner suggested the lowball offer might’ve been tied to that traumatic event — and the way he put it? Brutal honesty.
“I’m like, ‘I’m sorry? Why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over? Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what I made on the first season.’”
@high_performance Jeremy Renner reveals why Hawkeye Season 2 never happened… 👀🏹 Jeremy's episode with us is available now, exclusively on the High Performance App! 🙌 Jeremy Renner's 'My Next Breath' is available in all formats now, published by Simon & Schuster UK #avengers #jeremyrenner #hawkeye #hawkeyeseason2 #disneyplus ♬ original sound – High Performance – The High Performance Podcast
Let that sink in for a moment. The guy was trying to help his nephew out in the snow and ended up crushed by a 14,000-pound Sno-Cat. He suffered eight ribs broken in 14 places, a shattered right knee and ankle, a broken tibia, a busted clavicle, shoulder injuries — the list goes on. It’s a miracle he survived, let alone recovered enough to even think about returning to stunt-heavy MCU work.
And yet, instead of respect or understanding, he got offered crumbs. It’s frustrating, because this isn’t about Marvel Studios — it’s about the corporate bean counters behind the scenes.
“This is not Marvel, mind you. This is like, just Disney, not even really Disney. It’s just the penny pinchers, the accountants. I told them to go fly a kite. I mean, just at the at the insult offer. So we didn’t see eye to eye on it,”
That’s the kind of response you’d expect when you’ve clearly been undervalued. And honestly? Good on him for standing his ground. He’s not even asking for more money — he just wanted what he earned the first time around.
“Sadly, I still love the character. I’d still love to do it, but I I had to defend myself. I didn’t ask for any more money, mind you. Just pay me what I made made the first season. So it’s all disheartening that that didn’t happen, but that’s fine. I’m happy to let that go, because my body’s probably thanking me, time and time again, that I’m not doing it right now. But we’ll see.”
It stings a little, especially for fans who loved Hawkeye (which also starred Hailee Steinfeld and Florence Pugh, let’s not forget). The first season hit Disney+ back in late 2021 and had all the right mix of humor, action, and holiday vibes. But now it feels like red tape and corporate nonsense are keeping us from seeing Clint Barton again.
At the end of the day, Renner deserves every bit of respect — not just as an actor, but as a survivor who literally fought to live. If he’s ready to come back, he should be welcomed, not lowballed.