MCU: 10 Fascinating Facts Behind Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)

5. You Were MEANT To Think Hawkeye Was Deadmeat

Almost since the first Avengers, we've been primed to expect at least SOMEONE to be killed off and naturally, the hierarchy of the heroes has led lots of people to suspecting that Hawkeye would be the one to go. He began without a rela backstory, he wasn't a "real" hero in the same way that most of the others were and he didn't seem to have as many personal ties to the other Avengers.

When it came to Age Of Ultron, that feeling was amplified even further. It was like he was walking around with a target on his back, carrying a metaphorical picture of his "best gal" waiting for him at home after the war. When he didn't die, it was a major shock, but that was all down to Whedon's story-telling craft. We were SUPPOSED to think he was done for, partly to help hide the fact that Quicksilver was going to die:

“That scene between the two of them was obviously part of my ongoing campaign to ensure the belief that Hawkeye is a dead man. Even to the point where he says that’s his last project at the house. Meaning, ‘It’s my last mission.’ He might well say, ‘Don’t worry, honey. It’s just one more job. It’s perfectly safe.’ And then walk under a ladder. He’s like Dead Meat in Hot Shots. It’s all a ruse.”