“I’m not deaf”: Jeremy Renner on Hawkeye’s Hearing Loss in MCU After Avengers: Endgame
Hawkeye, portrayed by Jeremy Renner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been known for his exceptional archery skills and his role as one of the founding members of the Avengers. Renner was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for his exceptional work as a military sergeant in The Hurt Locker in 2008 and as a brash robber in The Town in 2010. However, after the events in Avengers: Endgame, fans of the franchise noticed a shift in the character’s depiction, specifically about his deafness.
Jeremy Renner Discussed His Hearing Loss, Which Was Featured In Hawkeye’s Comics
Jeremy Renner addressed the issue of Hawkeye’s hearing loss, which is a significant part of his character in Marvel Comics. The movies followed the comics in this aspect, and one of the most noticeable references to this was in Avengers: Endgame, where the character was seen wearing a hearing aid, indicating that he had suffered a hearing loss.
In the past, Disney+ announced that the 52-year-old would finally have his solo outing alongside Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop. The pair were joined by Lucky the Pizza Dog, a canine companion that Clint adopts in the comics.
Hawkeye offered a chance to explore Clint’s comic-accurate storylines in a new way for the MCU. In the series, the titular character dealt with the hearing loss that had long affected him in Marvel Comics.
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Wind River star addressed Hawkeye’s hearing loss that would come in the series, which he was excited to finally bring in from the character’s comic history. He even spoke about dealing with his hearing problems and how he was able to portray a sort of vulnerability by showing that disability on-screen. Renner explained,
“A lot of that’s in my life. I’m only hard of hearing, so I’m not deaf … I thought it was just a wonderful thing, cause it is, it’s always been a part of Clint’s character in the comics, and we found a way to make it a truthful entry point for his life and how it affects his life.”
He also mentioned that the hearing loss created a wonderful vulnerability that ties into other characters in a fun, he shared,
“And now, there is a wonderful vulnerability that comes in. There are a lot of ties into other characters because of it, in a fun way, in a negative way, in a positive way, it’s really, really interesting there. I found it to be quite a dynamic, interesting….sometimes an obstacle, sometimes an asset not being able to hear.”
Although Hawkeye was one of the founding Avengers, the series tackled his hearing loss for the first time in the MCU.
Why Does Hawkeye Wear A Hearing Aid In The Series
The reason for Clint Barton’s hearing loss in the Disney+ series Hawkeye remained a bit of a mystery. However, given his years of heroism and exposure to explosions and battles, it wasn’t hard to imagine that his hearing was affected.
The show even included flashbacks to some of Clint’s most memorable moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the Battle of New York and the climactic battle in Avengers: Endgame, where his hearing would have been put to the test.
Clint experienced different levels of hearing loss in the comics, ranging from partial to total. After a major battle, he became 80% deaf in one storyline.
The cast of the show also featured Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Black Widow’s character, Alaqua Cox as Echo, Fra Fee as The Clown, Vera Farmiga as Eleanor Bishop, and Brian d’Arcy James.
Although his hearing loss was changed in the past, it was brought back in Matt Fraction and David Aja’s highly regarded run, which had a strong impact on the Hawkeye series.
Source: Theilluminerdi
