Marvel Comics' Hawkeye is coming to the big screen a little sooner than expected.
Jeremy Renner will make a cameo appearance as Hawkeye in Kenneth Branagh's "Thor," according to The Wrap.
Renner was officially revealed to be playing Hawkeye in "The Avengers" during the San Diego Comic-Con, but the rumors of Renner's involvement started late last year. At the time, there was heavy speculation that Renner's character would debut in "Thor" in a similar way to Samuel L. Jackson's famous introduction as Nick Fury during the final scene of "Iron Man." Renner even fed those rumors himself.
“If I was a betting man, I would bet that Hawkeye would probably show up in "Thor," and then be in 'The Avengers,'” Renner related to Empire. “But do I know for sure? I can’t say. But I’d love for that to happen. It’d be fun.”
Renner quickly backed off his earlier statement a few weeks later.
"That was just one of those things that got blown way out of proportion," Renner told Movieline. "The only reason it came out this early, because 'Avengers' is two years away, is that they’re thinking OK, we may throw him in 'Thor,' we may not, as a cameo. You know what I mean? So there’s truth that we talked about it, but there’s no truth to me doing it."
Although Hawkeye was originally introduced as a misguided "Iron Man" villain, his appearance in "Thor" could mean that he will be an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. like his counterpart in "The Ultimates."
Additionally, rumors that Disney Channel actress Demi Lovato would have a major role in "The Avengers" were quickly shot down by Marvel. However, The Hollywood Reporter added that Marvel is looking to add another major female character to compliment the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson); who is otherwise the only superheroine among the lineup that includes Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chis Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Hawkeye (Renner).
"Thor" will strike theaters on May 06, 2011; while "The Avengers" will follow on May 04, 2012.
