Jeremy Renner may not be Hawkeye for much longer, with a new rumor stating that he will become Ronin in Untitled Avengers (aka. Avengers 4). While most people have yet to see any footage from Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Studios is already working on the sequel that will hit theaters just one year after Infinity War launches. Basically every single major Marvel Cinematic Universe character is set to appear in either or both of the next two Avengers films, and that includes Renner’s return as Clint Barton.

Hawkeye has arguably yet to be given his due in any of his four appearances so far, with Avengers: Age of Ultron doing the most for his character by introducing his secret family. Even though he retired for them, he went back into action, got arrested, and then freed from the Raft in Captain America: Civil War. And now he will reportedly take on a new name for Avengers 4.

MCU Exchange is reporting that Barton will take on a new persona in Avengers 4, leaving the Hawkeye name behind to become Ronin. So why will he make this change? Well, according to this rumor, it will be due to some tragic events that happen in his life during Infinity War. This is however just a rumor for now and the original report states how things could still change, so this may not come to pass, but could provide Barton with a great two-film arc if it does.


Taking on the mantle of Ronin is something Hawkeye has done before in the comics. On the page, he traded in his bow and arrows for katanas to become Ronin (the term for a master samurai) following the events of Civil War, so this could be another case of Marvel taking inspiration from the comics but adding more to it. It has already been confirmed that Avengers 4 will partially take place in Japan, making the shift to Ronin that much more plausible. Plus, Renner’s new haircut for the film may have also teased this upcoming change.

As for what could set Hawkeye down this dark path, there are only a few options based on what we’ve seen from him so far. Many thought the inclusion of his family in Age of Ultron meant he would die in that film, but with them still around and recently adding to the family, losing them would be one way to make the turn to Ronin believable. If Barton isn’t losing his family, then it could have something to do with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) or Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Since Black Widow has already been linked to Yakuza scenes in the Japan sets, she should be safe; and it would be very surprising if Scarlet Witch died in Infinity War. So, if this report is indeed true, it may spell doom for the Barton family, or the Russo brothers have thought up something even more shocking.

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