Though Clint Barton was notably absent from the recent Avengers: Infinity War, it’s been clear for many months now that the MCU isn’t done with its finest archer but is simply saving him for later, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige teasing big plans for Hawkeye’s future. With that in mind, you can expect quite the saga for Jeremy Renner’s character when Avengers 4 comes out next year, and the most popular prediction among the fans right now is that he’ll be adopting the darker persona of Ronin.
Various photos have added fuel to this theory, too, with Renner seemingly rocking a new hairdo and a new outfit in the upcoming flick. Moreover, such speculation has inspired one Marvel fan to create their idea of what the MCU version of Ronin could look like in full costume, and let’s just say that he doesn’t seem like the type of guy you’d want to make a lot of bow-and-arrow jokes around.
With his black mask and hood, Renner looks prepared for some stealthy missions here, and if the current theories are to be believed, then this ninja-like figure will probably have an arrow or two saved for Thanos. While the fate of Clint’s loved ones remains unclear for now, many are speculating that some or all of the Avenger’s family perished in the Mad Titan’s universe-wide purge, and that this tragedy will push him to adopt this moodier new persona. It’s therefore possible that his arc in Avengers 4 will see Clint rediscovering his less cynical side, or better yet, the sequel could even be setting Hawkeye up for his own TV show or solo movie.
It’s hard to say just what fate Marvel Studios has in mind for Clint Barton at the moment, but we’ll find out when Avengers 4 comes out on May 3rd, 2019.