Clint Barton (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Clinton Barton is a character portrayed by Jeremy Renner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and known commonly by his code name, Hawkeye. In the films, Barton is an expert marksman and hand-to-hand combatant, with his preferred weapon being a compound bow. As of 2020, the character is one of the central figures of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having appeared in five films of the series, and scheduled to headline a spinoff TV series.

Clint Barton
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye in The Avengers (2012)
First appearanceThor (2011)
Created by
Based onHawkeye
Adapted by
Portrayed byJeremy Renner
In-universe information
Full nameClinton "Clint" Barton
Alias
Occupation
Affiliation
SpouseLaura Barton (wife)
Children
  • Cooper Barton (son)
  • Lila Barton (daughter)
  • Nathaniel Barton (son)
NationalityAmerican

Jeremy Renner portrays Barton in the films, beginning with an uncredited cameo appearance in the 2011 live-action film Thor.[1][2] Renner reprises the role in 2012's The Avengers,[3] 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron,[4] 2016's Captain America: Civil War,[5] and 2019's Avengers: Endgame. He was initially to appear in a fight scene with Captain America in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) but it was scrapped due to his other filming commitments.[6][7] Renner initially said he would appear in Avengers: Infinity War,[8][9] but did not make the theatrical cut. During the events of that film, he is mentioned, along with Scott Lang, as being under house arrest (due to the events of Captain America: Civil War).[10] He appeared in 2019's Avengers: Endgame,[11][9] initially with a new appearance, visually similar to that of Ronin from the comics.[12]

Character origin

Barton, with the alter ego of Hawkeye, was first introduced in Marvel comic books as a reluctant villain, in Tales of Suspense #57 (September 1964). After two more appearances as a villain in Tales of Suspense #60 and #64 (December 1964 and April 1965), Hawkeye joined the ranks of the Avengers in Avengers #16 (May 1965). He then became a perennial member of the team.

In the mid-2000s, Kevin Feige realized that Marvel still owned the rights to the core members of the Avengers, which included Barton. Feige, a self-professed "fanboy", envisioned creating a shared universe just as creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had done with their comic books in the early 1960s.[13] After initially offering the role of Barton to Jensen Ackles, who had auditioned for the part of Captain America, Marvel hired Jeremy Renner to portray the character on screen.[14]

In April 2019, a limited series focused on Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton / Hawkeye was reported to be in development, with the plot involving Barton passing the mantle of Hawkeye to the character Kate Bishop.[15] The series was officially announced at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con, with the plot taking place following the events of Avengers: Endgame. Hawkeye is set to premiere in late 2021,[16] with Jonathan Igla serving as the series' showrunner.[17] In September 2019, Hailee Steinfeld was announced to be in consideration to portray Kate Bishop.[18]

Characterization
Jeremy Renner on the Hawkeye panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019.

A master archer working as an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D.[11][19] Renner said it was a very physical role and that he trained physically and practiced archery as much as possible in preparation.[20] About the role, Renner said, "When I saw Iron Man, I thought that was a really kick-ass approach to superheroes. Then they told me about this Hawkeye character, and I liked how he wasn't really a superhero; he's just a guy with a high skill set. I could connect to that".[21] Regarding Hawkeye's sniper mentality, Renner said, "It's a lonely game. He's an outcast. His only connection is to Scarlett's character, Natasha. It's like a left hand/right hand thing. They coexist, and you need them both, especially when it comes to a physical mission".[21] Renner said Hawkeye is not insecure about his humanity. "Quite the opposite, he's the only one who can really take down the Hulk with his [tranquilizer-tipped] arrows. He knows his limitations. But when it comes down to it, there has to be a sense of confidence in any superhero".[22] Renner earned $2-3 million for his role in The Avengers.[23]

Whedon said that Hawkeye interacts more with the other characters in Age of Ultron, as opposed to the first Avengers film where the character had been "possessed pretty early by a bad guy and had to walk around all scowly".[24] As the character did not appear in any other of Marvel's Phase Two films, Whedon stated Age of Ultron sheds light on to what the character was doing since the end of The Avengers.[25] Renner described the character as "kind of a loner" and "a team player only 'cause he sort of has to be. He's not really a company man. Captain America can be that guy. In [Age of Ultron] you'll understand why [Hawkeye] thinks the way he thinks".[26]

In March 2015, Renner was revealed to be reprising his role as Barton in Captain America: Civil War.[27] On Barton's reasons for joining Rogers' side, Renner said, "Cap was the first guy who called. Let's just get the job done so I can get home to the family",[28] along with feeling an obligation to side with Scarlet Witch, since her brother, Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver, sacrificed himself to save Barton in Avengers: Age of Ultron.[29] On how he and Barton fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Renner said, "I'm happy to be the ensemble. I'm not scratching or clawing to do a solo movie by any means ... I think [Barton's] a utility guy that can bounce around into other people's universes a little bit".[30]

Stephen McFeely described Barton's dark turn in Avengers: Endgame as "a good example of people who had much stronger stories after the Snap".[31] The film's cold open, which features the disintegration of Barton's family, was initially supposed to be in Infinity War following Thanos' snap, however it was moved to Endgame instead, with Markus explaining that it was "going to blunt the brutality of what [Thanos] did."[31] Joe Russo felt it was "a very tragic scene to open the movie with. It's one of the few scenes in the movie that actually makes me tear up when I watch it, because I think about my own family... And then you think about what would happen to you, as a father. You'd become very self-destructive".[32]

Character appearances

Barton appears briefly in Thor as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who arms himself with a bow and arrow, preparing to attempt to stop Thor from retrieving Mjolnir in New Mexico.

Battle of New York
Further information: The Avengers (2012 film)

In The Avengers, Loki attacks a remote S.H.I.E.L.D. research facility and uses his scepter to enslave Barton's mind and steal the power source known as the Tesseract. They travel to Stuttgart, where Barton steals iridium needed to stabilize the Tesseract's power while Loki causes a distraction. Loki allows himself to be captured and taken to the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier, which Barton attacks. Aboard the helicarrier, Barton fights Natasha Romanoff, who knocks him out, breaking Loki's control. Barton then participates in the Battle of New York, helping to defeat Loki's army.

Battle of Sokovia and Civil War
Further information: Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Barton is seriously injured in an initial battle to capture a HYDRA fortress, but healed by Dr. Helen Cho. The team later hides out at Barton's country house, where it is revealed that he has a wife and children. Barton participates in the Battle of Sokovia, where he convinces Wanda Maximoff to fully become an Avenger, and is saved from an airstrike when Wanda's twin brother Pietro sacrifices his life to shield Barton and a Sokovian child from gunfire.

Barton then retires from the Avengers, but returns in Captain America: Civil War to side with Steve Rogers against the Sokovia Accords. He recruits Wanda Maximoff to join that side and participates in the Berlin airport fight. He is among the heroes captured at the end of that battle. He is imprisoned in the Raft, but later broken out by Rogers. He and Scott Lang negotiate deals with the U.S. government to turn themselves in, receiving a term of house arrest in exchange. Due to this status, Barton is not involved in defending the Earth from the initial attack by the forces of Thanos; when Thanos uses the Infinity Gauntlet to snap his fingers and eliminate half of all life in the universe, Barton's wife and children are among those disintegrated. Barton then becomes a rogue warrior, travelling the world and slaughtering organized crime figures.

Time Heist
Further information: Avengers: Endgame

Five years after the snap, Romanoff finds a despondent Barton killing gangsters in Tokyo, and informs him that the Avengers have discovered a possible method of time travel, which would enable them to steal the Infinity Stones from the past and use them to restore those who had been lost in the snap. Barton volunteers to be the first to test the technology, and is transported to his country home prior to the disappearance of his family, briefly hearing the voice of his daughter before he is returned to the future. Barton and Romanoff travel to a past version of Vormir to retrieve the Soul Stone, but its keeper, the Red Skull, reveals that the stone can only be acquired by a person sacrificing someone they love. Romanoff and Barton each volunteer to be the sacrifice for this purpose, Barton insisting that he deserves to die for the terrible things he's done. After a struggle, Romanoff sacrifices herself, allowing Barton to claim the Soul Stone. After Hulk uses Stark's Infinity Gauntlet to snap the previously disintegrated people back into existence, Barton receives a phone call from his wife. Before he can answer, Thanos attacks the Avengers compound, and Barton finds the gauntlet and prevents the first wave of forces sent by Thanos from capturing it. He then participates in defending the Earth against this new attack until Tony Stark sacrifices his life to use the Infinity Gauntlet to disintegrate Thanos and his army. Barton and his family later attend Stark's funeral, where Barton and Maximoff commiserate over those they have lost to Thanos.

Reception

Screen Rant described Renner's portrayal of Barton as one of the casting decisions that helped the MCU, stating that "Renner channels the right amount of cynicism and earnestness to simultaneously shut down fan criticisms, recognize the ridiculousness of the premise, and somehow make it relatable".[33]

Accolades

Year Film Award Category Result Ref(s)
2013 The Avengers People's Choice Awards Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (with Scarlett Johansson) Nominated [34]
MTV Movie Awards Best Fight (with cast) Won [35]
2016 Captain America: Civil War Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Chemistry (with cast) Nominated [36]
2017 Kids' Choice Awards #Squad (with cast) Nominated [37]
2019 Avengers: Endgame Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [38]

See also

References
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