Jeremy Renner will go down in history as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's six original Avengers, but the actor had second thoughts about joining the franchise when Marvel Studios first approached him. The reason is one we've heard a lot in recent years: Renner baulked at the prospect of a multi-picture deal that would lock him in for a long time.
"Iron Man had come out, and I said, 'Look, man, I'm into what you guys are doing,' 'cause I loved Iron Man," Renner says of his initial conversations with Marvel Studios Presiden Kevin Feige. "You gotta kind of sign on for like, you know, a bunch of Avengers films and potential Hawkeye films. They kind of sign your life away."
"I'm like, 'Wait, man, I might be 50 in tights?' That was like my main concern," he continued. "'I don't know if I wanna do this. I don't think anybody wants to see me in tights at 50.'"
Of course, Renner did ultimately sign on the dotted line and first appeared as Clint Barton in 2011's Thor. Later, he'd assemble with Earth's Mightiest Heroes in The Avengers and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, he has a starring role in his own TV series, Hawkeye, and is clearly happy to remain part of the MCU moving forward.
In our review, we said: "Marvel Studios is once again sleigh-in' it with Hawkeye, an unmissable Christmastime team-up bringing holiday cheer to the MCU with top tier storytelling delivered in the Mighty Marvel Manner and a bold, brilliant new hero in Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop."
Check out the full interview with the MCU vet below: