Now here’s a turn-up for the books. Jeremy Renner is in talks to play Hawkeye in Marvel’s big-screen version of The Avengers… just as we exclusively reported in November.
Back then, we heard the news straight from the horse’s mouth. “Sounds like an interesting character,” he told us, after revealing he was in talks with Marvel, “but no offer has been made. But I’d love for that to happen. It would be fun.”
The story was then denied, but it seems that it was an old-fashioned smokescreen, for today The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Renner is set to take the role of the arch archer, Clint Barton. Renner’s apparently interested in a role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s next movie, and taking on Hawkeye – a featured role in The Avengers, but by no means a major player – would allow him to do both.
With Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and War Machine (Don Cheadle) also on board, The Avengers is getting pretty crowded. And that’s without factoring The Hulk, or a rumoured role for Josh Holloway (Hank Pym/Ant-Man?) into the equation.
But with Joss Whedon, a man adept at managing large ensembles, at the helm, we’re confident that **The Avengers **won’t be a cluttered mess. It's due out in 2012.