Disney+ is finally shining a light on many of the somewhat overlooked characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton is poised to get his when Hawkeye hits the streamer. While Renner will get his deserved solo moment, new MCU recruit Hailee Steinfeld is coming along for the ride and, much like the relationship between Barton and Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop, it would seem Renner showed the actress the ropes within the massive franchise. And recently, the Marvel veteran revealed how he "protected" his co-star while on the set of the upcoming Disney+ series.
In the comics, Clint Barton acted as a mentor and father figure for Kate Bishop, helping her to improve her skills while highlighting the pitfalls of the superhero life. Like many of the MCU's seasoned stars, Jeremy Renner wanted to make sure Hailee Steinfeld was comfortable with Marvel filmmaking. Renner said about mentoring his Hawkeye co-star:
That was always my role. Outside of acting in the thing, I was protecting her and giving her the CliffsNotes on how it goes with this kind of filmmaking: Green screen, superhero life, all that stuff. I just wanted to protect her, because there's a lot of physical stuff. She's a wonderful actress, a wonderful human, and I can't wait to see all the cool stuff that she's able to do.
It was nice of Jeremy Renner to guide Hailee Steinfeld through the MCU filmmaking process. Considering how connected and intersectional many MCU movies and TV shows are, it could be overwhelming for a newcomer. Thankfully, Renner helped Steinfeld get acclimated to everything, much like Robert Downey Jr aided Tom Holland and Scarlett Johansson mentored Florence Pugh. And with more original MCU stars heading out the door, it’s crucial to welcome the franchise's new stars with open arms and ensure that they're comfortable with what could be years of work.
But Jeremy Renner wasn’t done giving more insight into his and Hailee Steinfeld’s on-set relationship. Renner revealed to Entertainment Weekly what Clint and Kate’s relationship will be like on Hawkeye compared to the comics. He explained that their relationship will morph from that of an idol and a fan to one comprised of two equal partners. The actor revealed Clint Barton’s biggest problem will be Kate Bishop and her problems interfering with Barton’s world and life. So, at times, Bishop may be more of a hindrance than an asset to Barton on the show.
Hearing more about Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld’s relationship only amps up the anticipation for the Disney+ series. Aside from Renner’s recent comments, not much is known about Hawkeye, as it pertains to the plot. Still, Renner kept fans in the loop with behind-the-scenes details up to the time that the series wrapped. Interestingly, it’s also still unknown if Renner will step away from the MCU after the series is released.
Hopefully, the actor’s mentorship will aid Hailee Steinfeld in staying on track for future Marvel Studios productions. Fans will finally see Jeremy Renner and Steinfeld’s teamwork in action when Hawkeye premieres on Disney+ on November 24th.
