Theory: Why Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye is Ronin in Avengers 4

UPDATE: Watch the Avengers: Endgame trailer here.

Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye didn't appear in last summer's Avengers: Infinity War, but does return in its 2019 sequel Avengers 4. It's here in the fourth team-up epic, the one that œends the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it, that Hawkeye (real name: Clint Barton) sports another costume re-design. And this one is the most intriguing outfit yet and one that carries with it some significant story implications.

Renner was one of the earliest Avengers actors to chat with Marvel about the role that would span many years and films, having initially come in long before Joss Whedon was involved in writing and directing The Avengers. Zak Penn, the original writer of the film, is a real-life pal of Renner and pitched the actor on the idea of playing Barton. Penn helped convince Marvel to use him even after he was off the project.

As a result, before The Avengers casting became official at Comic-Con International 2010 that game-changing moment when the entire cast came on stage for that now-iconic photo opp - Renner spent a few years talking about Hawkeye. From what his Hawkeye costume would look like and why the character appeals to him, Renner slowly revealed that the ace archer would be grounded, based mostly on the Ultimate Marvel Comics version of the hero.

That's important to remember because everything he said came true, and what he's hinted at in the many years since, may come to fruition soon as well.

Hawkeye's Marvel Cinematic Universe Costumes

Let's recap Jeremy Renner's live-action Hawkeye costumes throughout the years. Like most MCU characters, from movie to movie there are new designs and gear since a major chunk of the business model revolves around Disney's consumer products division. New character looks equates to new promotional material, licensing opportunities, and most of all, new merchandise.

Renner first cameo'd in Thor (2011) where the archer was emphasized to be an elite, veteran marksman with heightened tactical awareness. Here he wore all black and is one of the few named' agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. For his real first full appearance a year later in Whedon's Avengers Hawkeye wears standard tactical gear until the final act where he sports a version of the Ultimate Hawkeye superhero costume, sleeveless with maroon colors and a super advanced quiver featuring all sorts of trick arrows.

For the 2015 sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Hawkeye got an extra layer of outerwear for battling in the snow. It's a long coat inspired by Hawkeye's original Marvel Comics duds. He still rocks the vest underneath and later in the film.

Hawkeye returned the following year for Captain America: Civil War, ever a loyal companion to Cap and Nick Fury (more on this later), and this time he got a new suit, a sidearm, melee weapons, and some new colors for the first time sporting some purple and blue.

We don't know precisely what Renner wears in Avengers: Infinity War since the single piece of official concept art (above) only reveals him from the upper chest up. From the neck collar featured in the art however, the suit does appear to be at least similar to his latest outfit from Civil War. Since most Avengers in the film are getting some visual changes however, we suspect the same will apply to Hawkeye.

Avengers 4 Introduces Ronin

It's in 2019 that things get particularly interesting for Hawkeye's wardrobe. Rumors and speculation have long pointed towards Renner's Clint Barton embracing elements of Ronin, an alter ego of his from Marvel Comics over a decade ago. Recent set photos confirm this to be the case.

In Avengers 4, Hawkeye becomes or at least suits up as Ronin. We're talking black and gold, straight from the comics, to go with that new hairstyle and an arm covered in tattoos. This could also mean Hawkeye, like several of his costumes from the source material, may finally sport a mask as well.

So, what does Ronin's introduction mean?

Avengers 4 will be drastically different than Avengers: Infinity War, hence the separation of the two movies from what was originally announced as a two-part story. In many ways it still is just that, obviously, but we know in Infinity War the focus is on introducing Thanos as the big bad, and more importantly, justifying him as the ultimate MCU villain. The other focus is on re-introducing virtually every MCU (movie side only, of course) character and putting them all together.

That means Infinity War is about Thanos, his Black Order elite henchmen, and his armies seeking to collect the six Infinity Stones and assembling them into the Infinity Gauntlet. And then using that to win. Thanos must win in some form since that's the only way this film can end and earn its title and followup. Avengers 4, and perhaps even elements of the movies in between (looking at you Ant-Man and the Wasp where, by the way, Hawkeye was once rumored to appear) will deal with the fallout and making it right. In the comics, when Thanos assembled the stones into the Infinity Gauntlet, he wiped out half the universe before the heroes turned it around and undid the damage.

What we Know About Hawkeye's MCU Phase 3 Role

In the Avengers: Infinity War footage played at D23 and Comic-Con International this summer, Hawkeye wasn't present. That means his story may follow him on his own (he is a lone wolf, after all) for at least part of the movie, or he may not have that big of a role to play yet. We know his priority is to his family who reside on a secret farm and with S.H.I.E.L.D. still disassembled as far as the films are concerned, his only loyalties are to Steve Rogers and Nick Fury.

From our Avengers: Age of Ultron set visit interview with Renner:

"He's kind of a loner anyway. And he's a team player, only 'cause he sort of has to be. He's not really a company man. You know what I mean? Cap I guess can be that guy. Hawkeye's on his own court. Again, a lot'll be revealed with a few simple scenes. You'll understand why he is and thinks the way he thinks. But, yeah, S.H.I.E.L.D., I don't think, was ever really that important to him. Fury's awesome. He likes Fury and will do anything for him, but a company man is just not him. He doesn't punch in and punch out."

The tease of understanding why he is that way is in reference to his family who played a key role in the first Avengers sequel and we suspect will still have a role to play. When I questioned Renner personally about some of the story beats he and Marvel discussed from the comics many years ago, he held back and explained that we've not seen them yet and that they could still come to fruition. He seemed genuinely excited to delve into some of the Hawkeye lore eventually.

So far, the MCU films have drawn inspiration from the Ultimate Marvel Comics universe for the design and backstory of Hawkeye, and in introducing him as a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative. In Ultimate version of The Avengers (where they're a celebrity team called "The Ultimates") Hawkeye's family is murdered by a traitor, setting him off to becoming lethally violent and unafraid of death. Note: He even later helps Hank Pym locate his missing wife Janet, knowing the feeling of losing one's family - which plays nicely into the rumors he could be in Ant-Man 2 (note: director Peyton Reed shot this rumor down).

Why Does Hawkeye Become Ronin?

The Ronin identity however, is only used by Hawkeye in the "regular" Marvel Comics after its infamous Civil War event. Since on the film side, Avengers 3 and 4 represent the next appearances of Hawkeye after the MCU's own version of Civil War, that part fits. But why the change? We think as part of the destruction guaranteed during Infinity War, part of the losses the heroes must ultimately face could include Hawkeye's family. This plot point is one of the major turning points for the Ultimate version of the character and could explain Renner's drastic change in look. It also gives Renner an entirely new type of character to play.

From the unofficial set photos surfacing during production of Avengers 4 it appears Black Widow and Hawkeye are together, seemingly embracing the vigilante lifestyle and both rocking new tattoos while in Japan.

Since each MCU appearance of Hawkeye has showcased him utilizing more hand-to-hand combat, he's ready for the Ronin swords. He just needs a reason to be violent. The movies taking a cue from the Ultimates serves that purpose. Even in the mainline Marvel Comics he becomes just as violent as Ronin, murdering Skrull invaders who impersonated him and his lover, Mockingbird.

So, in the movies, losing his family - whether to the forces of Thanos or a traitor like in the Ultimate Marvel Comics - allows for an important character arc to appear in the films - perhaps one of the darkest ones yet. And there are many ways to do it, from Skrulls (confirmed to appear in the 1990s set Captain Marvel) impersonating an ally to a mind-controlling gem (like the one in Vision's forehead), or simple collateral damage from another alien invasion. And like many of the potential upcoming deaths in the next Avengers movies, it can all be undone by the end of Phase 3 when the heroes turn the tide against Thanos. Because we know they will but we also know there will be casualties. The directors promised as a much.

More: 15 Things From Hawkeye Comics We Want In The Movies

Share your thoughts and theories on the Avengers and Hawkeye in Phase 3 of the MCU! Oh, and check out that time Clint Barton went all John Wick on a drug cartel. And that time he went Legolas on some Skrulls.