If you look at the shows that have sprung from the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year on Disney+, they tend to give breathing room to heroes who have often had smaller roles to play in the films – from WandaVision’s centring of Scarlet Witch, to Sam Wilson’s ascent in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, to Loki’s all-out focus on the fan-favourite God Of Mischief. Now, make way for Hawkeye – a show feature not one but two Hawkeyes. First up, we have the returning Jeremy Renner as the sharp-shooting Avenger Clint Barton, an MCU staple since Thor. And joining him for the show is Hailee Steinfeld as comic book favourite Kate Bishop – a young female archer who’s long looked up to Barton.
If Bishop was inspired by Barton to become one of the greatest archers in the world, Steinfeld was herself inspired by her character to get handy with a bow and arrow. “My archery is now quite good,” she grins to Empire in the new Spider-Man: No Way Home issue. “Kate is self-taught and it was important to me to take it on myself, to be there by the time we started shooting.” Here’s an exclusive image of her, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
Being able to shoot straight is a key skill if you’re looking to step into the shoes of an actual Avenger. “Kate wants to do good; she has this burning desire to follow in Hawkeye’s footsteps,” Steinfeld explains of Bishop. “She’s idolised this person forever and then she finds herself on this wild ride with him.”
Read Empire’s full Hawkeye story in the new issue, on sale Thursday 28 October and available to pre-order online here. Hawkeye streams on Disney+ from 24 November.