MCU: First Look at Hawkeye’s 2025 Return Confirms His Doomed Fate (Photos)

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A fresh line of merchandise unveiled a sneak peek at Jeremy Renner’s reappearance as Hawkeye on Disney+ this year, following his significant role in almost every Marvel Cinematic Universe ensemble without ever being the main focus. However, the dynamic of Disney+ introduced Clint Barton with a young apprentice, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop, for a holiday-themed clash against Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin in “Hawkeye.” Unfortunately, Renner was involved in a snowplow accident in 2023 that resulted in his death, but fortunately, he has remarkably recuperated and resumed acting in other ventures.

Since their last appearances in the MCU, Barton, Bishop, and Hawkeye from Disney+ have not been announced for any upcoming live-action projects, including Avengers: Doomsday, leaving their future roles uncertain. However, fans can look forward to seeing these archers again this year in Marvel Zombies, an R-rated, four-episode animated series on Disney+. This show will revisit the post-apocalyptic world from What If…? Season 1 and introduce some new characters.

Anticipation builds among fans for the release of “Marvel Zombies” later in the year, and Entertainment Earth has unveiled a sneak peek at a Funko Pop! figurine depicting Hawkeye’s return, thus confirming Clint Barton’s zombie transformation within the series. However, this revelation might dampen the hopes of fans who were looking forward to Jeremy Renner reprising his role as Hawkeye in the alternate reality show this year, as it appears improbable that he will be voicing the undead growls himself.

In August 2025, the product is set to debut at a price of $14.99. This release will feature a variant character based on Mahershala Ali’s portrayal of Blade, transforming into the role of Moon Knight (truly!).

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I must admit that Hawkeye’s grim destiny was not entirely unexpected, considering he was among the initial victims transformed by the quantum virus in the 2021 “What If…Zombies” scenario. Come October, this four-episode series will continue his story, shedding light on the aftermath of that fateful event.

Accompanying other Avengers, Hawkeye found himself overrun by zombies on the Golden Gate Bridge. Later, at Grand Central Terminal, he set traps for his remaining former allies who had survived, demonstrating that even in an undead state, his archery skills remained sharp with a bow and arrow.

In some alternate scenarios, Barton could have been depicted as undead, particularly in one episode of “What If…?” However, he has featured more prominently in narratives where Renner lent his voice. These include an Avengers murder mystery, a world dominated by Ultron’s victory, and a festive season featuring Hulk-amped Happy Hogan.

The latest merchandise for “Marvel Zombies” reinforces the concept art unveiled in 2022, which identified 19 characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe expected to reappear in the upcoming R-rated undead storyline. It was also announced that Hawkeye, Okoye, Ghost, Abomination, Captain Marvel, Ikaris, and Captain America will be portrayed as zombies in this series.

To date, nine actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been verified to provide voices for the “Marvel Zombies” series. Among them are Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Kate Bishop, and Iman Vellani, who portrays Ms. Marvel. This upcoming show is slated as the next release by Marvel Studios, with its premiere scheduled on Disney+ on October 3rd.

When Will Hawkeye Return in Live-Action?

As a movie enthusiast, I was certainly excited about the adrenaline-pumping chair reveal of the Avengers cast, but alas, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) were missing from the lineup. However, with an impressive roster of 61 Marvel Cinematic Universe characters set to appear in the highly anticipated 2026 movie, “Avengers: Doomsday,” it’s difficult to predict just how much screen time our beloved Hawkeyes will get. With so many familiar faces gracing the silver screen, we can only speculate about their roles in this epic production.

Earlier, it seemed uncertain if Hawkeye Season 2 would go ahead as Renner declined a disrespectful offer for his Disney+ comeback. However, his stance has shifted in recent times as he now appears optimistic about Hawkeye making a return for its second season.

If it’s possible that Hawkeye Season 2 is in development, this could potentially signal that Clint Barton might survive the anticipated deaths in Avengers 5. Given his extensive history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his significant role as a founding Avenger, as well as his connection with Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Barton was one of the characters with an unclear fate in Doomsday’s storyline.

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I’ve heard whispers about Marvel Studios potentially filming Hawkeye Season 2 this very year for a Disney+ debut in either 2026 or 2027. However, it appears that scenario might be more wishful thinking than reality, given the dearth of updates since last year.

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2025-08-08 13:30