Way back at the end of 2008, there were reports that Iron Man 2 would include and introduce two characters from the comics to the Marvel film universe: Black Widow and Hawkeye.

According to Latino Review last December, they were "told that HAWKEYE and BLACK WIDOW are definitely in Iron Man 2 and they wont be cameos either." Well, we know at least half of that is true. As for Hawkeye, we've seen or heard absolutely nothing on that character and no actor was signed to play the role... at least that we know of.

In an interview in the latest issue of Empire Magazine however, actor Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, S.W.A.T., 28 Weeks Later) talks on the subject of Hawkeye and the possibility of the character making an appearance in the Marvel movies.

Apparently, Renner was a consideration for the role of Captain America but when he went into to meet with the folks at Marvel Studios, they instead talked about the actor possibly playing Hawkeye, the purple Archer, instead.

“I don’t know if I’d be right for Captain America. I met with the Marvel guys, actually, but we didn’t talk about Captain America. But one of the writers, Zak Penn, we’ve become friends over time and he was thinking maybe Hawkeye could be interesting. He sounds like an interesting character.”

Zak Penn of course is the man in charge of bringing all of the major players together in one of the most ambitious film projects ever, in writing The Avengers.

Renner continued:

“If I was a betting man, I would bet that Hawkeye would probably show up in Thor, and then be in The Avengers... But do I know for sure? I can’t say. But I’d love for that to happen. It’d be fun.”

Can't say what? ;)

He then confirmed that no official offer has been made and he expects that won't come for a little while.

“I’m just happy to get considered for big franchise roles like that... I’m not [doing the] casting. If they see me that way, right on. If they don’t, I’m ok with it.”

Is it crazy to think that this could be some super secret and that Renner is in fact already Hawkeye and is in Iron Man 2 as the old rumors stated?

Probably not, but Renner always plays bad-ass characters in his movies and I'm down for him playing Hawkeye in The Avengers. If he is to be introduced, it doesn't make sense for him to be a part of Thor instead of Iron Man 2 since his comic book origins have him, real name: Clint Barton, crossing paths with Iron Man and Black Widow. That sounds like an Iron Man 2 intro to me.

We know there will be at least some surprises in Iron Man 2 since Black Widow, War Machine and Whiplash have all been revealed already. And as we know, each Marvel Studios film has featured an exciting cameo - what might Iron Man 2 bring on that front?

If we hear anything on the future of Hawkeye or his introduction in any of the Marvel movies, Screen Rant will let you know.

What do you think of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye?

Sources: Latino Review, CBM, Empire Magazine