He was in talks, then supposedly he wasn't, then he was but it was only loose talk - now finally it's been confirmed that Jeremy Renner is very close to agreeing a deal to play Hawkeye inThe Avengersfor Marvel. THR has the write-up, claiming Renner's deal isn't a big money one as Marvel are working hard to keep costs low and their recent practise of low ball offers in return for long term contracts, is still in place. Hawkeye is Marvels answer to the Green Arrow at DC an archer who doesnt know how to miss, a character with a cocky attitude, a chip on his shoulder and he isnt actually too far removed from Renners past filmic characters. Simply put, it's just about PERFECT CASTING - something Marvel have become astute at recently. In Marvel continuity, he was inspired to be a costumed hero by Iron Man, and falls in love with Soviet Spy Black Widow (Scarlett Johanssons character) and she tricks him into stealing from Tony Stark, so you would think it would have made more sense for him to cameo in Iron Man 2 and he could have easily been inserted into that storyline. Joss Whedon's The Avengers is set for a May 4th, 2012 - with a production start of around Spring time next year.