There’s a reason why comic fans keep saying all characters always come back eventually. You can’t keep a good man down, as Jeremy Renner disclosed his eagerness to return as Clint Barton (aka Hawkeye) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Renner faced a life-threatening snowplow accident on January 1, 2023, where in an act as heroic as his Marvel alter ego Hawkeye would have done, Renner saved his nephew. In the process, the injuries he sustained from the snowplow accident nearly ended his life and placed him on the sidelines for the rest of the year while recovering.
Renner may have been down, but he wasn’t out – and he’s not even down anymore. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor shared insights into his recovery journey and the unwavering support he received from his fans and Marvel colleagues.
The ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ star, who endured the crushing impact resulting in more than 30 broken bones, expressed gratitude for the support he received from his MCU co-stars during his recovery. “All those guys come to my bedside,” Renner revealed. “They’ve been with me all along through this recovery, so… if they want me, they could have me. It would be something.”
Renner’s positive outlook on reprising his Hawkeye role was evident when he stated, “I’m always game. I’m gonna be strong enough, that’s for sure. I’ll be ready.” This declaration comes over a year after the harrowing incident that saw the actor being run over by a 14,300-pound PistenBully snowcat at his home in Reno, Nevada.
Renner recalled that he had attempted to save his nephew by jumping onto the rolling snow plow. In his haste, he was unable to set the parking brake, which resulted in him being pulled underneath and crushed. The actor underwent emergency surgery to address the severe injuries, including the reconstruction of his rib cage with metal, metal plates in his face, and titanium rods in one of his legs.
Providing an update on his health, Renner shared that he was doing ” probably 90 percent of all the things I needed to be doing. I think another six months will be hopefully running [more].” Despite the challenges, he emphasized setting goals for self-improvement, stating “there’s always something to do to get better, be stronger, be happier, be healthier, and that’s what I look forward to.”
Further reflecting on the recovery process, Renner acknowledged the difficulty of looking back or forward, preferring to focus on the present and the immediate challenges ahead. “It’s hard for me to look back, to be honest with you. It’s hard for me to look forward. I focus on now and this next step in front of me, ’cause there’s always another obstacle for me right now.”
Having returned to the set of his Paramount+ drama ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ for the production of its third season, Renner shared that his nervousness was overwhelming. However, he also acknowledged that his return to work marks a significant milestone in his recovery journey.
As Renner navigates the ongoing recovery process, he expressed gratitude for his progress, stating, “I can’t believe I’m sitting here right now. I’m very grateful. I’m very happy that I’m moving forward in life, and I’m happy to share this life with the amazing people who I love.”
While there is no specific confirmation, fans of the Avengers franchise can anticipate the possible return of Clint Barton in the upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars, allowing Renner ample time to prepare for the demanding stunts.
Will Jeremy Renner make an MCU appearance before then? In the meantime, fans can watch all of his MCU films and the Hawkeye TV series with Hailee Steinfeld on Disney+.
