Hawkeye: A Marvel TV show about a superhero with impostor syndrome

 

Hawkeye: A Marvel TV show about a superhero with impostor syndrome

Which Avenger is the best? There probably won't be many people who pick the guy with a bow and arrow when it comes to Marvel movies.

That's one of the things Hawkeye explores in the new Disney+ TV show, Hawkeye, where the Avengers' archer finally gets his due.

Jeremy Renner has played Hawkeye/Clint Barton for ten years.

"I love the thought that Clint is a guy that has been raised to the status of Avenger but he is a human, and I believe that he feels insecurity and reality," says Rhys Thomas, executive producer for Radio 1.

"It's about a man who is struggling with his self-worth and almost dealing with impostor syndrome."

"Having to deal with the identity that is Hawkeye - as the thing you're defined by - but knowing the reality on the inside, was part of the fun."

The impostor syndrome occurs when someone constantly doubts their own skills, expertise, and achievements, even when evidence suggests they're actually quite good at what they do.

These are the causes why Hawkeye is such a relatable figure to fans of the franchise.

Jeremy tells Newsbeat that he has always appreciated how he anchors the fantasy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) by being a superhero without superpowers.

"That's why they're fighting in the first place - because he has a family and kids."

Hawkeye joins forces with Hailee Steinfeld to play crack shot Kate Bishop, while the big-name Avengers are absent.

Kate is a huge Hawkeye fan and an avid archer.

Kate witnessed the events of the first Avengers movie as a child. In a flashback at the beginning of the episode, Hawkeye saves New York from an alien invasion.

Hailee Steinfeld makes her Marvel debut as Hawkeye in the Hawkeye series.

Clint Barton serves as a mentor to the young fan and potential future Avenger in this new series.

According to Hailee, "I felt like there was a similar dynamic between Kate and Clint as there was between us personally."

"I was very excited and ready for anything that came my way - very much like Kate."

Who is Kate Bishop?

Since 2005, Bishop has appeared in Marvel comics - eventually taking over Hawkeye's role in some of their stories. In the MCU films, she was a member of the Young Avengers, a team of teenage heroes with similar powers and abilities.

In previous Marvel productions (Wiccan and Speed in Wandavision), and in future ones (Ms. Marvel), some of these heroes have appeared. Jeremy describes shooting the six-hour series as "a little more arduous" than making a movie, but even after a decade in this role, saying he loves what he's doing and who he's doing it with.

"I love this character, this world, and the blessings that come with it," he says.

"There are plenty of curveballs that are thrown your way in this kind of storytelling, and I certainly don't want Hailee to feel like she's out of her element."

"'She'll ask: 'Is this normal?' And I'll say: 'I know, it makes no sense, but just keep moving forward, all we have is each other.'

Renner, now a veteran of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, made his MCU debut in 2011 with Thor.

In 2018, Hailee took the lead role in the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee, but her role in Hawkeye allowed her to flex her action-movie credentials - and kick some butt!

"I enjoyed the fact that this role required so much physical preparation because of the archery, stunt training, and fight choreography," she says.

Being in the stunt room and learning all these new skills was one of my favorite parts.

The worst thing that could happen is I'd catch him [Jeremy] in the stunt room and be absolutely terrified. He might as well be a martial artist."

"Yet Jeremy hints that he's just using his own acting skills to make it seem like he knows what he's doing during fight scenes. Many of these activities are very physical and require a lot of gym time, he says."

"However, it's a lot of fun, even if you have no idea what you're doing. I mean, you've gotta look like you're good at it, right?"

It's like John McClane in Die Hard

Hawkeye follows previous Marvel TV shows featuring its Avengers cast (Wandavision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki) which have been huge streaming hits in 2021.

Aside from Clint and Kate's on-screen chemistry and the show's lighthearted tone, Hawkeye has one other thing that sets it apart from its predecessors - it is set at Christmas.

Rhys Thomas isn't scared to open a festive can of worms about that set-up.

"I love Christmas movies and immediately thought of Die Hard," he says.

"Clint Barton's character reminded me very much of John McClane, and I saw him as a Christmas movie. As there is some debate about whether the movie is a Christmas movie, but I was intrigued."

"It's a joyous time of year, it brings warmth, and it is also merry to watch someone going through a challenging series of events during this time of year."