Highlights

• Hawkeye season 2 is rumored to be ordered, with plot details including Clint's brother Barney and a single-location setting.
• Uncertainty remains whether Barney will be an antagonist or aid Clint, with potential for new character origins.
• Speculation suggests a conflicted relationship between the Barton brothers.

Hawkeye season 2 may be ordered at Marvel Studios and Disney Plus. Rumors of the MCU series' renewal include plot details about the next adventure for Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton and Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop.

Hawkeye debuted on Disney Plus in time for the 2021 holiday season, concluding its six-episode run just days before Christmas. While Hawkeye confirmed Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin as part of the MCU proper, paving the way for his return in Echo and the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series, it also established Steinfeld's Kate Bishop as Clint Barton's new partner. However, there has been no sign of the duo since the series ended, aside from a brief appearance by Steinfeld in The Marvels' Young Avengers scene.

According to reputable scooper MyTimeToShineHello, Hawkeye season 2 has been ordered for Disney Plus, meaning fans will see Renner's Clint Barton and Steinfeld's Kate Bishop together again. The scooper also provided plot details, claiming Hawkeye season 2 will feature Clint Barton's brother, Barney, in a major role and will see Clint and Kate Bishop trapped in a single location, similar to The Raid. As of this writing, neither Marvel Studios nor Disney have confirmed Hawkeye season 2's status.

While details on the nature of Barney Barton's role were not divulged, the character could be an antagonist if Marvel Studios follows the comic book storylines. In the comics, Barney Barton became an FBI agent and was assigned to go undercover as the bodyguard for a criminal named Marko. When Clint joins his mentor, Trick Shot, in an attempt to rob Marko's mansion, he is unaware of his brother's uncovered work. Clint turns against Trick Shot after unwittingly shooting Barney with an arrow, and Trick Shot responds by wounding Clint and parting ways with his former protege. After a series of events only possible in the comic book world, Barney is eventually recruited by Helmut Zemo, who turns Barney against his brother and enlists a cancer-stricken Trick Shot to train Barney to become as skilled with a bow an arrow as Hawkeye. After Trick Shot's death, Barney assumes Trick Shot's mantle and becomes one of Hawkeye's most formidable villains.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Marvel Studios will adapt Barney Barton's comic book backstory or develop a new origin for the character. It wouldn't be the first time Marvel Studios' changed comic book lore, as they recently did in Echo by changing Maya Lopez's superpowers. However, if Marvel Studios wants audiences to feel the conflict between the Barton brothers, it may be best for them to develop the troubled relationship as much as possible.

On the other hand, Barney Barton may not be an antagonist at all in Hawkeye season 2. The character eventually reconciled with Clint in the comics and even assisted his brother and Kate Bishop on a mission. This is all speculation until Marvel Studios confirms or denies Hawkeye season 2. The company teased Hawkeye season 2 by changing its categorization from "Limited Series" to "Outstanding Comedy Series" during the 2022 awards season, which fans saw as evidence that Marvel Studios was at least open to renewing Hawkeye for another season. However, Marvel Studios and Disney have been silent since then, so this latest rumor is the best news fans have received about Hawkeye season 2 thus far.

Hawkeye season 1 is available on Disney Plus.

Source: MyTimeToShineHello