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The Marvel Cinematic Universe always seems to be growing but, in Phase Four, this expansion reaches TV in the form of various Disney+ shows. One of these series is Hawkeye, which will mark the return of Jeremy Renner’s famed archer. Not much is known about the plot, except for the fact that Clint Barton will be joined by aspiring hero Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. Renner has, however, been sharing a series of delightful behind-the-scenes updates that include subtle teases, but his latest has me wondering if a major MCU entity is set to return in the show.
Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye posts have been fun to see, but his latest one is sure to get fans thinking about a few things. The actor recently took to Twitter to post a new image, presumably after completing a day of work, and he showed off one of Clint Barton’s quivers. However, the quiver interestingly includes an insignia well known to Marvel fans. Check it out:
Yes, what you’re seeing is a S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on Hawkeye’s quiver. This definitely comes as a surprise, given that the spy organization hasn’t played a prominent role in the main (present-day) MCU franchise for some time now. Fans will likely be quick to make note of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which focused on the remains of the organization, led by Phil Coulson. However, Marvel Television handled that show and, lately, some have come to wonder if the show is still canon, due to it deviating from MCU events in its later seasons. So in other words, this could potentially be the first time Marvel Studios has brought S.H.I.E.L.D. back into the present in a while.
There are a few possibilities regarding what this image means for Hawkeye. The one possible scenario that fans are likely hoping for is that S.H.I.E.L.D. is now being formally re-integrated into the MCU proper by Marvel Studios. This would, hypothetically, mean that there’s a chance for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters like Alphonso “Mack” Mackenzie and Melinda May to show up. It’s been evident, especially through WandaVision, that another major organization is making its presence known in the MCU now, but it would be great to also bring back the organization that helped launch the cinematic universe.
A second plausible explanation for Clint Barton’s S.H.I.E.L.D. quiver is that it’s part of a flashback sequence that tracks Hawkeye during his days with the organization. We already know we’ll be getting more insight into Barton’s time as Ronin between the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. With this, it wouldn’t be crazy to think that this could be a flashback as well.
Still, it would be nice if S.H.I.E.L.D. were to be re-established in the main MCU continuity, and seeing Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters pop up would be great. It’s a long shot, but it’s definitely not impossible, especially when you consider the other things that have been reported about the MCU as of late.
Hawkeye is scheduled to be released on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link, later this year and, ahead of the show, you can revisit Clint Barton’s greatest moments by checking out previous MCU movies on the streaming service.
