Jeremy Renner Says Marvel Did Not Call Him for Avengers: Doomsday

Jeremy Renner has confirmed he will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday, the Russo Brothers-directed film set for release on December 18, 2026, according to AOL and Unboxholics. Speaking at a Q&A event at Comic Con Liverpool, Renner said Marvel Studios did not contact him about joining the project.

What Renner said

According to Yahoo Entertainment and Forbes writer Paul Tassi's reporting, republished on Yahoo, Renner told the audience: "Not in that one. Doomsday I'm not in, so The Avengers will probably lose, just so you know… they didn't call me, so it's their fault they're going to lose."

The comment drew a response from the crowd. Per Yahoo's account of the event, an audience member shouted "again," a reference to Avengers: Infinity War, the 2018 film in which Hawkeye also did not appear and the team lost to Thanos. Renner's character, Clint Barton, returned for Avengers: Endgame, which ended with the Avengers' victory.

The original six Avengers

Doomsday is expected to bring together most of the surviving members of the original 2012 Avengers team. CBR reports that Robert Downey Jr. is returning in the new role of Doctor Doom, while Chris Hemsworth is confirmed as Thor and Mark Ruffalo is expected as Hulk. Chris Evans' return as Captain America has been widely reported, though CBR notes Evans himself has denied involvement even as most fans remain convinced he will appear.

CBR describes Hawkeye as the only member of the original Avengers cast whose MCU future remains uncertain, noting that production on Doomsday wrapped in September with a cast CBR puts at 26 major MCU performers, including Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic.

Fan skepticism and the Secret Wars question

Despite Renner's direct denial, some fans suspect the actor is concealing a surprise appearance. AOL's report compares the situation to Andrew Garfield's public denials of a Spider-Man role before Spider-Man: No Way Home, which turned out to be inaccurate. Unboxholics adds that, per reports it cites, a scene Renner filmed could still surface later, though no outlet has confirmed this with Marvel Studios directly.

Yahoo's report notes that Hailee Steinfeld, who plays Kate Bishop, has stayed evasive when asked about her own involvement in either Doomsday or its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars. Yahoo's reporting also suggests that Renner's own phrasing, saying he is not in 'that one,' could hint he might still appear in Secret Wars, drawing a parallel to the earlier pattern in which Hawkeye missed Infinity War but returned for Endgame.

What remains unconfirmed

Marvel Studios has not issued its own statement addressing Renner's comments, and the studio's full Avengers: Doomsday cast list has not been described as final by any of the outlets reviewed. CBR notes other characters, including Spider-Man and Daredevil, were also missing from the cast announcements made so far, though their absence remains unconfirmed one way or the other.