55 Years Ago Today, the Most Underrated Avenger Was Born (And He’s Secretly an MCU Favorite)

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Everyone loves the original Avengers, but one member, celebrating a birthday today, is a surprisingly big fan favorite within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor have starred in massive blockbuster films and become household names, other heroes haven’t reached quite the same level of popularity – and this Avenger is one of them. They’re a bit underrated, despite being well-loved by many fans.

Today is Jeremy Renner’s 55th birthday! The actor, born on January 7, 1971, is best known for playing Clint Barton, or Hawkeye, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared as Hawkeye in the 2011 film Thor, and then became a key member of the Avengers in the 2012 movie The Avengers. This made him one of the original Avengers, alongside the most popular heroes in the franchise.

Hawkeye Went From MCU Joke to Fan Favorite

Following his debut in The Avengers, Hawkeye reappeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Captain America: Civil War (2016). Though he was noticeably missing from Infinity War, he returned in Avengers: Endgame (2019), where his persona as Ronin took center stage.

After more than ten years as a supporting character, Jeremy Renner finally got his own series, Hawkeye, in 2021. The show featured Clint Barton mentoring Kate Bishop, who takes on the Hawkeye mantle. While Renner also appeared in What If…?, season one of Hawkeye was his last appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, leaving fans wondering what the future holds for his character.

I always get a kick out of how people joke about Hawkeye and his bow and arrow, but honestly, I think he’s one of the most compelling characters in the MCU. So many of the Avengers have these crazy powers, which sometimes makes their fights feel less intense, you know? But Hawkeye? He’s just a regular guy, completely relying on skill and training. That’s what makes it so impressive that he can go toe-to-toe with gods and monsters – it’s all down to his dedication and hard work, and I really appreciate that.

Beyond his skills as an archer, Hawkeye has experienced a particularly compelling storyline within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unlike most heroes, we’ve seen a lot of focus on Clint Barton’s family life, which made his story in Endgame so heartbreaking. After his family was lost during the Blip, Hawkeye took the law into his own hands, targeting and eliminating criminals. This marked the first time an original Avenger had ventured into such dark territory, and it really surprised audiences.

Hawkeye stands out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because he’s a normal human. This allows him to convincingly fight both incredibly powerful enemies like Loki and Ultron, and more down-to-earth villains like Kingpin, showcasing his versatility with a bow and arrow.

When Will Hawkeye Return In The MCU?

Although Hawkeye’s story hasn’t officially ended in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he’s one of the few remaining original Avengers, his next appearance is currently unknown, sparking a lot of fan theories about when he might return.

Fans were surprised when Jeremy Renner’s name wasn’t included in the initial cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, especially since rumors suggested many characters hadn’t been officially revealed yet. This led many to believe Hawkeye would definitely be in the film. However, Renner later told The Breakfast Club that he would not be appearing in Doomsday.

It might be surprising that one of the original Avengers won’t be in Doomsday, but this has happened before – Hawkeye wasn’t in Infinity War. While Hawkeye could potentially show up in Avengers: Secret Wars, there’s currently no indication that will happen. So, if you’re hoping to see Hawkeye again, the Avengers movies might not be where to look.

Another possibility for Hawkeye’s return is a second season of his Disney+ show. Jeremy Renner has hinted that season 2 is still planned, saying he’s working towards being healthy enough to film it and that it will be fantastic when it happens.

Hawkeye could reappear in a future Young Avengers project due to his relationship with Kate Bishop. While he might not fit into a Doomsday storyline, there are still many possibilities for Jeremy Renner’s character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2026-01-07 16:10