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THE AVENGERS; Jeremy Renner Says He Felt Like a Token Chess Piece

Don't expect to see too much of Hawkeye in the coming Avengers movie. Actor Jeremey Renner reveals that out of all his upcoming action franchises, The Avengers is the movie he feels the most lost in.

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By Mark Julian - 12/15/2011

Source: news.com.au

Are we getting one of these deals where a character heavily advertised as being a key component of a movie but actually has a very limited role? Speaking to news.com.au actor Jeremy Renner gave some familiar answers to a few questions but also was a tad more forthcoming on a couple of others. Here's the rundown.

On his busy schedule filming a series of action flicks back-to-back:

Jeremy Renner: It's certainly a ride. It's tested me personally, artistically, physically. I don't know if I've passed the test - I don't even think I passed 'Go'! I certainly haven't collected my $200.

On whether he foresaw his acting career steering towards the action genre:

Jeremy Renner: No. It started off with wanting to do something on a world stage - The Avengers. I love what Marvel do in that universe, so I thought, 'I could give that a go, why not?' I've never been a part of a movie people are gonna go see all around the world. I've done a lot of movies nobody's ever seen (laughs). So that opened it up - then Mission came around, then Hansel and Gretel, then Bourne. It all snowballed in a wonderful way.

On if he felt lost in any of the big action blockbuster ensembles:

Jeremy Renner: It certainly had that feeling on The Avengers. Maybe I'm in the movie, maybe I'm not, I have no idea. The scale is out of this world. That's where I felt like a token, a little pawn chess piece.

On rumors that he'll take over the Mission Impossible franchise from Tom Cruise:

Jeremy Renner: I dunno. There are possibilities in any franchise ... But that's also assuming I don't die in this movie, so you may be overstepping your boundaries.

His top injury from all of his action films:

Jeremy Renner: It's probably to my ego (laughs).

I sure hope that Hawkeye has a prominent role and doesn't get lost in the shuffle as Renner seems to infer above. Having discovered Renner myself, in The Hurt Locker, he's a fabulous actor and deserves to have his time to shine. Unlike his superhero co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans, he's an Oscar nominated actor like Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury [Samuel Jackson]. Now Renner's quote could also possibly mean that his role in The Avengers will be reminiscent of his brief cameo in Thor, where he mindlessly executes his orders and isn't given a chance to flesh out his character. That could also lead Renner to describe his role in The Avengers as a chess piece. However, I'm inclined to believe that Hawkeye simply won't have a large role in a film that's already packed with established characters like Cap, Iron Man, Thor and even Hulk.

Still, I would love to see Renner in a solo Hawkeye film. He definitely has the acting chops to carry his own film.

There's more in the interview with Renner so click the link underneath the banner to read the full transcript.


The Avengers is an upcoming American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures1, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the sixth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which crosses over several Marvel superhero films including Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). The film is written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast, which includes Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson. In The Avengers, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America to save the world from destruction.

Development of The Avengers began when Marvel Studios received a grant from Merrill Lynch in April 2005. After the success of the film Iron Man in May 2008, Marvel announced that The Avengers would be released in July 2011. With the signing of Scarlett Johansson in March 2009, the film was pushed back for a 2012 release. Whedon was brought on board in April 2010 and rewrote the screenplay that was originally written by Zak Penn. Production began in April 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio and New York City. The film entered post-production at the conclusion of filming in September 2011.

The Avengers is scheduled for release on May 4, 2012 in the United States.
Source: via news.com.au
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OverCross - 12/15/2011, 8:31 AM
Poop.
WolvieCBM - 12/15/2011, 8:35 AM
Where did he say that? I'm not seeing it.

Also, he is a supporting character. Nothing wrong with that. And of course he felt that way, who wouldn't when shooting a film like Avengers.
marvel72 - 12/15/2011, 8:47 AM
as long as the main four get decent screen time i don't mind,the main four being iron man,thor captain america & hulk.

hawkeye & black widow aren't that popular.
kevberg - 12/15/2011, 8:52 AM
Not sure i understand what Renner was expecting. Its par for the course. More characters=less screen time for everyone. ( unless you make the movie longer )

they gave him a cameo in Thor which leads to Avengers which ( depending on how thats received and how HE is received, ) might lead to a Hawkeye movie. To lament being a " Chess pawn" ..... seem's like his ego is showing through.
Moakynubs - 12/15/2011, 8:55 AM
Hawkeye is just as cool as any of the other Avengers, Marvel Studios better believe that.
BmanHall - 12/15/2011, 9:13 AM
Sucks, but whatever. I'd rather him have a small role than no role at all.
Mechagino - 12/15/2011, 9:34 AM
I could tell, he didn't appear a lot in the trailer so that tells you he won't have a lot of screen time in the movie.

So much for his spinoff movie. :P
MarkJulian - 12/15/2011, 9:35 AM
Just realized that's actually Bullseye in that teaser image, lol.
ecksmanfan - 12/15/2011, 9:36 AM
I don't think he meant his character, I'm thinking it was a general statement at how "big" the movie is. I can't imaging them just adding him for the sake of shooting an arrow or two. Calm yourselves kidlets!
MarkJulian - 12/15/2011, 9:36 AM
@WolvieCBM Says Renner,
"It certainly had that feeling on The Avengers. Maybe I'm in the movie, maybe I'm not, I have no idea. The scale is out of this world. That's where I felt like a token, a little pawn chess piece."
NextHero08 - 12/15/2011, 9:50 AM
It's Hawkeye...what do people really expect? The whole film is gonna circle around Cap vs Ironman, tryin to fit Bruce Banner in, explaining how Loki survived his fall and the new alien threat and somehow give someone like Hawkeye an important role as well? Yea...rite.
niknik - 12/15/2011, 9:51 AM
Good. He doesn't belong in the Avengers origin anyway. Should have been Giant-Man and the Wasp instead of lame-assed Hawkeye and Black Widow in the origin story of the Avengers. Hopefully we won't see $hat of Scarlet Johansen either.
HelaGood - 12/15/2011, 9:52 AM
who cares! bring on thor and the hulk!
darkknightmare2012 - 12/15/2011, 9:52 AM
you mean the whole fn movie isnt about hawkeye .. f this im out this piece son.
thegoldenlemur - 12/15/2011, 9:54 AM
hell yeah he a supporting character, I love Hawkeye, but he throws sticks. The best thing about the character is his demeanor and attitude, not his "powers" and this is an action movie.
wrighta15 - 12/15/2011, 9:55 AM
He's a fine actor who no doubt will make the most of his character. As small or as brief it may or may not be. It certainly seems more likely that he'll be a potential love interest for B.Widow, even if it is only a minor sub-plot. Nevertheless, I think the two will work very well together. They both have very similar acting styles: Subtle and nuanced. Let's just hope we get to see some great archery action in the final film.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 12/15/2011, 9:56 AM
Of course he is a pawn, the real star of this movie is Iron Man. Well, at least according to the trailer. This is Iron Man 2 1/2 right?

Before hardcore Marvel fans throw a fit I'm just kidding.

However, I will be freaking pissed if Caps girlfriend from the first movie is Tony Starks mother. I want them feud because of their fundamental beliefs, I don't want to see this whole emotional layer added on top of it. I swear if cap utters the words your mother would be embarrassed of you I'm walking out. The movie should be great though. As long as they keep that out, I'm sure I will see it twice.
nuclearpriest - 12/15/2011, 9:57 AM
I could be wrong but I could swear I've seen this same Renner interview about three times on this site.
mikebunt - 12/15/2011, 9:57 AM
He can't have that small a role, he alluded to being the only guy who can take down the Hulk in an other interview a while back.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 12/15/2011, 9:59 AM
I really wish we could hear this interview, because that is an interesting word to use. Pawn. That is a sentiment that is echoed with many people who have dealt with Marvel in the past making movies. Again should be a fun flick though.
OdinsBeard - 12/15/2011, 10:03 AM
I think the headline is a bit misleading. i think he's just talking about how Avengers is such a big movie with a such a big scope when you work on stuff like that you just feel like a pawn. Not that he personally felt like pawn as hawkeye... i dunno...
NoAssemblyReqd - 12/15/2011, 10:04 AM
A character neednt have a lot of lines to be a fan favorite. Look at Legolas in LOTR. He's barely a character, but he gets to take down a huge freaking elephant (to thunderous applause in the theater where I watched it). I suspect Hawkeye is a bigger presence than Renner realizes.

Still, his words are troubling, and his attitude doesn't bode well for future Marvel endeavors.
MassExecutions - 12/15/2011, 10:05 AM
What did he expect? His role could still have a big impact. Like a Boba Fett kind of thing. I still wouldn't rule out bigger roles in future movies, or a spinoff.
TheGuillotine - 12/15/2011, 10:17 AM
OdinsBeard is correct, and I quote:
"I think the headline is a bit misleading. i think he's just talking about how Avengers is such a big movie with a such a big scope when you work on stuff like that you just feel like a pawn. Not that he personally felt like pawn as hawkeye... i dunno..."
ArrowToTheKnee - 12/15/2011, 10:18 AM
This guy is a great actor, of course he is wasted in a popcorn flick like Avengers.
blvdnoise - 12/15/2011, 10:19 AM
His role will probably be the equal to ScarJo's role in IronMan2.. Maybe a little more..
blvdnoise - 12/15/2011, 10:21 AM
The Town is probably my favorite movie he's been in.. He did very well in that IMO
SupermanFan09 - 12/15/2011, 10:26 AM
Yeah it must suck to have a small role when your doing what you dreamed of as well as taking over for possibly 2 franchises (Bourne & Mission:Impossible). Every Role you have won't be a big one bro but your still getting paid man
Gmoney84 - 12/15/2011, 10:26 AM
I have to agree with BLVD. The Town is probably my favorite Renner movie as well. It's such a great film.
jazzman - 12/15/2011, 10:27 AM
Jeremy Renner feel like a Token. a white guy feeling like a Token HAHAHAHAHA
PapaMidnight - 12/15/2011, 10:28 AM
@blv, yeah, i've that feeling too.
jazzman - 12/15/2011, 10:28 AM
@ArrowToTheKnee

well he did not have to taken the role then if thats the case
Spidey91 - 12/15/2011, 10:29 AM
I'm sure he will have a decent amount of screentime,and he will kick ass everytime he's on screen :D
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 12/15/2011, 10:29 AM
@mothman I agree

I think scree percentage will be RDJ 50%, Cap 20%, Thor 15% and Hulk/Bruce Banner 15%. Sure you will have scenes where they are all together, as for separate screen time and character development RDJ will get the majority. Doesn't mean it will be bad, in fact it will be a good movie. But the studio has this down to a science they know what the average film goer wants and they will deliver.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 12/15/2011, 10:31 AM
I know Nick Fury will have a few scenes as well as Scar Jo, but I'm just braking down the main players and what I think their percentage will be.
aRandomSinisterClone - 12/15/2011, 10:32 AM
so we finally hear form an actor in the movie that it may not be that great. seems he knows hawkeye was just thrown in there to add more heroes.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 12/15/2011, 10:32 AM
breaking* I think Jeremy Renner and the rest of the supporting cast will make up about 10% of this movie. The rest will belong to The Avengers and their screen time will be broken up like that.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 12/15/2011, 10:37 AM
Oops forgot Loki and the villains, they will get 10% of separate screen time. SO basically I have it broken down like this (again I'm counting Hawkeye, Fury, Black Widdow supporting characters even though they are Avengers.

Supporting cast: 10% of screen time by themselves
Villains: 10% by themselves (with no main Avengers fighting them, or in Loki's case capturing and interrogating them).
The Avengers: 80% With RDJ getting 50% of whatever time that maybe.

Save for how much screen time RDJ will get I think that is how it should go. Will be a great fun movie, but again hopefully caps girlfriend is not Iron Mans mom!
Fabius - 12/15/2011, 10:43 AM
So what, he knew already that he will not be star like Thor or IMan...When you play in movie "assemble" it's a team, sometimes an actor must accept to forget his ego. Not like Norton...Or keep quiet ! Just that.
McGribble - 12/15/2011, 10:43 AM
The fact of the matter is, The main heroes people want to see is iron man, captain america, thor and the hulk. A guy shooting arrows, no matter how bad ass he is, will have a hard time competing with... a guy in an weaponized armoured suit, a super soldier, a nors god and a big green rage monster. I am sure he will do the role justice though...
Ceejay - 12/15/2011, 11:02 AM
He may feel like a production like this with all the SFX, green screens etc but when he views the finished movie he'll no doubt see his worth in the grand scale of things.
TheBigBoss917 - 12/15/2011, 11:07 AM
It's a shame he feels that way because he's such a great actor *tsk tsk*
Fogs - 12/15/2011, 11:12 AM
All he said was "The scale is out of this world".

He can bet his ass it is :P

Hmmm... sensationalism smells like bacon.
batmanrises - 12/15/2011, 11:14 AM
@RidiculousFanboyDemands

Nope, TS's mom is named 'Maria'. Howard Stark uses her name in that reel that Tony watches in Iron Man 2.
werty - 12/15/2011, 11:16 AM
Thank god. I hope and Widow(in clothes) are barely seen. what a bunch of waste
GhostXIII - 12/15/2011, 11:19 AM
Seriously, people here really suck at reading and nuance. He's not complaining about a small role, he's talking about how huge the film is. How come only a handful of people seem to realise this?
ArrowToTheKnee - 12/15/2011, 11:28 AM
@jazzman

Didn't have to take home that fat paycheck either.
ACira - 12/15/2011, 11:34 AM
I doubt he'll be a particularly huge role, but I also doubt he'll be a small role. The way he said it makes me think he hasn't seen the final film yet, so he's unsure how much he'll feature compared to the others. I think, if you compared Avengers to a film like Inception based on the large cast, Renner will probably have similar screen time in Avengers to Tom Hardy's role of Eames in Inception. Maybe slightly less, but I'm sure he'll probably be quite memorable, maybe the snarky, reluctant team member.
Witch - 12/15/2011, 11:39 AM
I sure hope that Hawkeye has a prominent role and doesn't get lost in the shuffle as Renner seems to infer above

I sure hope so as well
l0rdleg0las - 12/15/2011, 11:58 AM
i really hope neither he or Black Widow have prominent part in The Avengers.

this movie has been gearing up to show Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Cap come together, not the token sidekicks.

this movie needs to focus on the 4 who have had movies devoted to them and the reason everyone wants to see this movie, while setting up Hawkeye, Widow(hope for recast) and the rest of the prominent SHIELD agents, maria hill and Fury for much more substantial roles in the sequel.
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