Avengers assemble! And does that include Jeremy Renner?'The Hurt Locker' breakout star is up to play Hawkeye, the quirky archer who started out as a villain in the comics, in Marvel Studio's upcoming movie version of 'The Avengers,' according to a report in Empire Magazine.
He was originally rumored to be in the running for the upcoming 'Captain America' movie from Marvel, but lacks the blond-haired, square-jawed countenance of the star-spangled one.
"I don't know if I'd be right for Captain America," Renner told Empire. And while no definite offer for Hawkeye has been made, Renner confirms that he has broached the subject with Marvel. "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."
If Renner does nab the part, it seems like a good choice to us. Hawkeye has a bit of an anti-hero edge to him, and Renner has so far made a career out of playing fringe characters, like his portrayal of a real-life serial killer in 2002's 'Dahmer.' The role earned him an Independent Spirit Award Best Actor nom. Renner has also picked up multiple awards and nominations for his role in this year's Iraq War drama, 'The Hurt Locker.'
There's lots of Net buzz on the 'Avengers,' 'Thor,' and 'Captain America' Marvel projects these days. According to io9.com, the 'Thor' movie will set the stage for 'The Avengers.' The Avengers original lineup was composed of Thor, the Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man and The Wasp. Other heroes, like Captain America and Hawkeye, joined later.
'Thor' will star Chris Hemsworth as the titular Norse god, with Kenneth Branagh directing a cast that also includes Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman and Kat Dennigs. Production begins in January, and the movie is scheduled for a May 20, 2011, release.
Also, Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. will look to spin 'Iron' into box-office gold once again when 'Iron Man 2' hits theaters on May 7, 2010. And 'The First Avenger: Captain America' is due for a July 2011 debut. (OK, we know he wasn't the first Avenger so we'll have to wait and see where else they veer from the original comic.) A 2012 release date has been floated for an 'Avengers' release. Let's hope it sticks.
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