Actor Jeremy Renner, known for playing Hawkeye in Marvel movies, has said he turned down a return to a hit TV show because he was offered a much lower salary. His decision has started new conversations about how much actors are being paid, especially now that streaming companies are cutting back on costs.
In a recent interview, Renner talked about why he isn’t coming back for the show’s second season. He didn’t name the show, but many people believe he was talking about Mayor of Kingstown, which he starred in last year.
“They asked me to do a season 2, and they offered me half the money,” Renner said. “And I’m like, ‘Wow, it’s gonna take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money. … I’m sorry, did you think I’m only half the Jeremy cause I got ran over? Maybe that’s why you want to pay me half of what you paid on the first season?’”
Mayor of Kingstown was a big success, and Renner got a lot of praise for his role. It was different from his usual action-packed Marvel performances, and many viewers liked seeing a more serious side of him. But now, after strikes in Hollywood and rising costs, studios are offering smaller paychecks — even to big-name stars like Renner.
Sources say talks between Renner’s team and the studio didn’t go far. The show is still moving ahead, but it may have a new lead actor or change its story to explain his absence.
Many fans online are sad Renner won’t be back, but others support his choice. They say actors deserve to be paid fairly, especially when they helped make the show a hit.
Renner is still busy with other projects and is doing well after recovering from a serious snowplow accident in early 2023. His return to work has been called a big comeback, which makes his decision not to return to the show even more surprising.
It’s unclear if he might come back in the future, but for now, Jeremy Renner is standing firm—saying that sometimes, the money just isn’t right.
