Jeremy Renner has always played his characters with full dedication. From war dramas to superheroes, he has played all the roles with equal commitment. As Hawkeye in Marvel’s Avengers franchise, he’s never been one to chase the spotlight.
However, in a candid new interview with High Performance, Renner revealed the emotional weight of a different kind of battle. Several actors and writers have spoken out about not being treated fairly by Marvel. Now, Renner has joined that crew.
Jeremy Renner Was Offered Half The Money To Return For ‘Hawkeye’ Season 2
According to Jeremy Renner, he was approached to reprise his role as Clint Barton in ‘Hawkeye’ Season 2, but with a significant pay cut. “They asked me to do Season 2, and they offered me half the money,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Well, it’s going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money, and eight months of my time.’” He didn’t mince words, and his reaction was visceral. “Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got run over?”
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Renner is referring to his harrowing snowplow accident on New Year’s Day 2023, which left him with 38 broken bones and a recovery journey few thought he’d survive. Disney offering him a diminished salary after such an ordeal felt like an insult, and he said so. “This is not Marvel, mind you. This is just Disney. Not even really Disney just the penny pinchers, the accountants.” He emphasized that he wasn’t asking for a raise, just the same pay as Season 1.
It wasn’t just about money, it was about dignity, self-worth, and respect. Renner, who gave a performance rooted in physicality, and felt overlooked. And yet, even in his frustration, there’s no bitterness toward the character. “Sadly, I still love the character. I’d still love to do it… but I had to defend myself.” His rejection of the offer wasn’t about ego. It was about being seen as the full person he still is.
Jeremy Renner On His Near-Death Experience And How It Changed Everything For Him
In his new memoir ‘My Next Breath’, Jeremy Renner reveals the full scope of the accident that almost took his life. On January 1, 2023, Renner was run over by his 14,000-pound Sno-Cat while trying to save his nephew. What followed was a series of injuries so extensive that many assumed he wouldn’t make it. His injuries included broken ribs, shattered legs, and a crushed chest.
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“I know I died, in fact, I’m sure of it,” he wrote. Lying in the snow with a heart rate of just 18 beats per minute, Renner was literally on the edge of life and death. “After about thirty minutes on the ice of breathing manually for so long… that’s when I died.” And then came something profound. “There was no time, place, or space… just a kind of electric energy.” At that moment, as life slipped away, Renner says he felt peace.
“It was the most profound adrenaline rush, yet an entirely tranquil one at the same time: electric serenity.” He describes the sensation not with religious certainty but with spiritual awe. “All life just got better in death. Everything and everyone I love or ever loved in my life was with me.” Renner didn’t lean on clichés about the afterlife. “It could have been ten seconds; could have been for five minutes. Could have been forever.” So, when he turned down ‘Hawkeye’ Season 2, he wasn’t rejecting work; he was protecting what he fought so hard to reclaim.
