Avengers: Age of Ultron saw the team trying to lift Thor’s hammer, but Hawkeye wasn’t really interested in doing it – here’s why. Following their first mission together in The Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye reunited in Avengers: Age of Ultron, where they came face to face with a whole new type of enemy whose goal was to destroy humans as he thought they were the root of all problems. Said villain was Ultron, an android that began as a peacekeeping program developed by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner and who went rogue after being powered by the Mind Stone.

Just minutes before Ultron made his first physical appearance and introduced himself (and his thoughts on humanity) to the Avengers, the team was enjoying an after-party at the Avengers headquarters. As they were drinking and having a good time, the reunion turned into a competition to see if anyone could lift Thor’s hammer, as they didn’t believe there was such a thing as a “being worthy” requirement and was all a trick – or physics, as Tony Stark suggested. This friendly competition was started by Hawkeye, who made a comment on the hammer’s enchantment (or what he thought it said) and how it was fake.

Related: Thor: Why Mjolnir Is More Important Than Stormbreaker (Despite Being Weaker)

Hawkeye pointed out it was a trick, with Thor assuring him it was much more than that. Hawkeye insisted, and Thor challenged him to try to lift it so he could see it was definitely not a trick. Hawkeye hesitated briefly but ended up trying – and failing. However, there’s a line that can be easily missed as it comes right after Tony makes a joke and the rest laugh: Hawkeye tells Thor that he “has seen this before”, so he wasn’t too surprised to see he really couldn’t lift it, even asking the God of Thunder how he does it.

Avengers Age of Ultron Hawkeye mjolnir

Hawkeye’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn’t in The Avengers, but in Thor, released a year before they all joined forces for the first time. There, Hawkeye witnessed Thor’s attempts to lift the hammer when the Asgardian hero was banished to Earth and thus had none of his powers, meaning he wasn’t worthy of holding the hammer. Although he wasn’t present when Thor regained his powers and the hammer went back to him, he did see him using it in The Avengers, so he was aware there was something special going on there – and yet, he mocked Thor about it in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The rest of the Avengers (and Rhodey) tried to lift the hammer as well, with Captain America moving it slightly (hinting at him being worthy and finally using the hammer in Avengers: Endgame) and Black Widow simply passing on the opportunity as that was “not a question she needed to answer”.

Related: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Thor’s Hammer Saw The MCU Leave The Comics

Out of all the original Avengers, Hawkeye is the one fans feel was forgotten the most through his time in the MCU, which is why it’s not surprising that many have forgotten he witnessed some really important moments, such as Thor’s attempts to regain his hammer. Hawkeye surely wasn’t expecting Thor to challenge him when he began mocking him about the hammer, and he ended up confirming what he already knew: not anyone is worthy of holding the hammer.

Next: How Hawkeye Can Get A Proper MCU Origin Story On Disney+

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