Jeremy Renner shares first thought when cast as Hawkeye

Photo by Gabriele Holtermann/Sipa USA

Jeremy Renner's first thought when cast as Hawkeye: 'I don't want to be 50 in tights'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 11/23/21

"Hawkeye" premieres its first two episodes on Disney Plus on Wednesday.

Jeremy Renner will turn 51 on Jan. 7, 2022.

Those two things don't seem related at all, unless you know what ran across Renner's mind when he landed the role of Hawkeye for "The Avengers" (2012).

When asked by Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" if he ever thought his time with the character "would run this long," Renner shared, "I think there's ideas of that initially, but that's like, it was 11 years ago. I remember one of my first thoughts—this is like 2010, 2011—I'm like, 'I don't want to be 50 in tights!' Here I am, 50 in tights! I'm like, 'No one wants to see me at 50 in tights!' I guess they do."

Hawkeye is picking up two years after "Avengers: Endgame." In September's official trailer, Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Renner) is ready to enjoy the holidays with his family after getting them back together from Thanos snapping his fingers to erase them. The only problem is, it won't be that simple to walk away from his vigilante past.

"Former Avenger Clint Barton has a seemingly simple mission: get back to his family for Christmas," the official synopsis explains. "Possible? Maybe with the help of Kate Bishop [Hailee Steinfeld], a 22-year-old archer with dreams of becoming a Super Hero. The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton’s past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit."

With Fallon, Renner dodged questions about the end of "Black Widow" and whether Hawkeye will mark the end of his time as Clint.

Watch Renner's appearance below.