In a stunning revelation that has rocked the Marvel fandom, Avengers star Jeremy Renner has reportedly rejected an offer to return as Hawkeye — not with quiet negotiation, but with a fiery, unfiltered message to Marvel Studios: “F*ck off.”

According to sources close to the actor, the offer made by Marvel for Renner to reprise his role as Clint Barton in a future MCU project was not only underwhelming financially but also perceived by the actor as a blatant insult to his legacy within the franchise. The move marks a major turning point in the already complex relationship between legacy Marvel actors and the evolving direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

From Core Avenger to Cast Aside?

Jeremy Renner has been with the MCU since 2011’s Thor, where he made a brief but memorable cameo as Hawkeye. Over the next decade, he would evolve into a core member of the Avengers team, appearing in The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and the billion-dollar hits Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

But as Marvel’s Phase 4 and beyond leaned into newer, younger heroes, Renner’s Hawkeye began to fade from the spotlight. His most recent outing — the 2021 Hawkeye Disney+ series — introduced Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and hinted at Barton’s retirement. Despite positive fan reception, the series didn’t receive a green light for a second season, and Marvel has remained vague about Hawkeye’s future in the MCU.

The Offer That Crossed the Line

Now, insider reports claim that Marvel recently approached Renner with a limited appearance offer — one that included a significantly reduced salary and minimal screen time. The source, who requested anonymity, described it as “a throwaway cameo paycheck for a founding Avenger,” and said Renner was “deeply offended.”

Rather than quietly decline, Renner allegedly expressed his frustration with studio executives in no uncertain terms. “He felt disrespected,” said the source. “After everything he’s given the franchise — showing up injured, doing press tours, anchoring a series — this offer felt like a slap in the face. So yes, he told them exactly where they could shove it.”

Fans Rally Behind Renner

Since the story broke, fans have taken to social media in a wave of support for the actor. The hashtag #RespectRenner began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users expressing outrage over Marvel’s handling of one of its original heroes.

“Jeremy Renner survived a near-fatal accident and still came back swinging. Marvel owes him more than a glorified cameo,” one fan tweeted, referring to Renner’s terrifying 2023 snowplow accident that left him with over 30 broken bones.

Others pointed out that Marvel has shown greater financial and creative investment in newer characters while neglecting the contributions of its original cast.

“They’re out here spending millions launching unknowns while lowballing a literal Avenger. Ridiculous,” another post read.

What This Means for the MCU

Renner’s alleged fallout with Marvel adds to the growing list of high-profile tensions between legacy MCU actors and the studio. Scarlett Johansson’s 2021 lawsuit over Black Widow’s streaming release, Chris Hemsworth’s dissatisfaction with Thor: Love and Thunder, and even Anthony Mackie’s comments about Marvel’s creative direction suggest a deeper issue brewing beneath the surface of the billion-dollar franchise.

While Marvel is pushing full steam ahead with its multiverse saga — introducing new heroes like Shang-Chi, Moon Knight, and the Fantastic Four — the handling of beloved legacy characters like Hawkeye could come back to haunt them. With fan loyalty rooted deeply in the original Avengers, sidelining them for budget cuts may not be the smartest play.

Renner: Not Just an Actor, But a Survivor

Beyond his Marvel career, Jeremy Renner has won admiration for his resilience and passion. His recovery after his horrific snowplow accident was nothing short of miraculous, and his candid posts about the emotional and physical toll touched millions.

In that context, Marvel’s alleged offer isn’t just a business decision — it reads like a dismissal of everything Renner fought to return to. And clearly, the actor won’t tolerate being treated like a footnote in the very franchise he helped build.

Final Take

Whether you agree with Renner’s blunt response or not, one thing is clear: the days of Marvel dictating the terms unchallenged may be coming to an end. The studio now faces a choice — respect the legacy of its original stars, or risk losing the goodwill of the fans who made the MCU what it is.