Jeremy Renner posted a close-up photo of his Hawkeye costume to his Instagram Story on August 27, 2026, set to the character’s MCU theme music and with no caption — reigniting fan speculation about a return, even though Renner said as recently as October 2025 that he wasn’t cast in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars.
Renner shared the post to his Instagram Story on Thursday, August 27, 2026. GamesRadar+ and Heroic Hollywood both picked up the tease within hours.
What Renner Actually Posted
The Instagram Story showed a tight close-up of Hawkeye’s costume fabric and quiver, played over the character’s theme music from the MCU. There was no caption, no announcement, and no tag — just the image and the song, the kind of post that disappears from Instagram Stories after 24 hours. Renner hasn’t posted anything since to clarify what it means.
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| What happened | Renner posted an unlabeled photo of his Hawkeye costume to Instagram |
| When | August 27, 2026 |
| On the Avengers: Doomsday cast list? | No — Renner is not among the announced cast |
| Renner’s own statement | Said in October 2025 he wasn’t set to appear in Doomsday or Secret Wars |
| Last MCU appearance | Hawkeye (Disney+), 2021 |
| Possible context | Coincides with new marketing for Avengers: Endgame: Encore’s theatrical re-release |
Why Fans Think This Means a Return — and Why That’s a Leap
It’s an easy jump to make: Renner played Hawkeye across five MCU films and his own Disney+ series, and a wordless costume photo timed to renewed Avengers marketing looks like a tease. But nothing about the post actually confirms a casting. Renner isn’t on the announced cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, nothing has been revealed for Secret Wars, and Renner told press in October 2025 he wasn’t set to appear in either film. The more likely explanation is simpler: Marvel is actively promoting Avengers: Endgame: Encore’s theatrical re-release right now, and a nostalgic Hawkeye post from the actor lines up with that campaign a lot more neatly than it does with an unannounced casting.
Hawkeye’s Status in the MCU Right Now
Renner hasn’t played Clint Barton on screen since Hawkeye wrapped its first season on Disney+ in 2021 — five years ago. No second season has been ordered, and Marvel Studios hasn’t given any public indication of where the character fits into the current Avengers roster heading into Doomsday and Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the franchise as Doctor Doom shows Marvel is willing to bring original cast members back in new roles, but that isn’t the same as evidence Renner is doing the same as Hawkeye.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jeremy Renner confirmed to return as Hawkeye in Avengers: Doomsday?
No. Renner is not on the officially announced Avengers: Doomsday cast list, and Marvel Studios has not confirmed his involvement.
What exactly did Renner post?
A close-up photo of his Hawkeye costume on his Instagram Story, set to the character’s MCU theme music, with no caption or announcement attached.
Has Renner said anything about returning to the MCU?
As recently as October 2025, Renner said he wasn’t set to appear in either Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
When was Hawkeye last seen in the MCU?
Renner last played Clint Barton in the Hawkeye series on Disney+ in 2021, and no second season has been confirmed since.
