In a recent escalation within the entertainment industry, actor Jeremy Renner has publicly criticized Disney for their financial offer for a second season of the series "Hawkeye."
According to Fox News, the offer provided to Renner was notably less than his compensation for the series' initial season, leading to his refusal.
Renner, known for his portrayal of the titular character in the Disney+ series, expressed his disappointment, labeling the proposition from Disney as an "insult offer."
The terms apparently proposed halving his prior salary despite demanding double the effort — a situation he found unacceptable.
The dissatisfaction stems partly from a near-fatal incident on January 1, 2023, whereby Renner was severely injured by a snow plow. He speculated whether his recent accident influenced Disney’s valuation, questioning if they perceived him as less capable post-recovery.
Renner attributed the decreased offer to what he termed as "penny pinchers" and clarified that he directed his grievance toward Disney's accountants rather than Marvel or Disney directly.
Renner emphasized his affection for the Hawkeye character and clarified that his salary expectations were not exorbitant but simply equal to what he initially received. “I didn't ask for any more money," he said. “It’s just ‘pay me what I made the first season.’”
Renner explained his decision:
They asked me to do a season two, and they offered me half the money. And I’m like, wow. It's going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money. And so eight months of my time, essentially, and I have to do it for half the amount. I told them to go fly a kite, I mean just at the insult offer. So we didn't see eye to eye on that.
Disney responded to Renner's claims, disputing the details, although the reports by The Hollywood Reporter indicated a contrary perspective from the actor. Disney has not yet commented further following these disclosures.
Despite the setback with "Hawkeye," Renner is not slowing down. He is currently on a promotional tour for his new memoir, "My Next Breath," which recounts his traumatic injury and profound experiences during his recovery, including a vivid description of his near-death experience.
In the memoir, Renner describes his harrowing ordeal after being run over by the snow plow. He vividly recounts how, lying on the icy driveway, he experienced what he believes was his own death, perceiving "a kind of electric, two-way vision made from strands of that inconceivable energy."
Looking forward, Renner's involvement in the upcoming Marvel film, "Avengers: Doomsday," expected in May 2026, remains unconfirmed. This development casts a light on substantial shifts potentially underway within his professional landscape.
Renner’s latest controversy underscores a broader discussion about actor compensation and contract negotiations within the industry, probably sparking further debate over fairness and valuation of established cinema talents versus emerging stars in major projects.
