How Infinity War Leaves The Door Open For Hawkeye To Return In Avengers 4

If there’s one MCU nugget that continues to elude the Marvel community – you know, aside from the Avengers 4 title – it’s the current whereabouts of Clint Barton, the skilled archer and former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent better known as Hawkeye.

Last seen during Marvel’s second biggest superhero smackdown, Captain America: Civil War, Hawkeye was a total no-show during Avengers: Infinity War, and was only mentioned in passing – if memory serves, Don Cheadle’s James Rhodes (War Machine) said something to the effect of “Clint is still on house arrest,” presumably to safeguard his family.

It’s a fate that also befell Scott Lang, though the buzzworthy new trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp has already hinted at his devious escape plan. For Hawkeye, the folks over at Heroic Hollywood have presented a new theory concerning Clint Barton and, more specifically, how he might be woven into the story of Avengers 4.

It all begins with Infinity War‘s ending. Once Thanos has successfully obtained all six Infinity Stones, snapped his fingers, and reduced half of the universe’s population to dust, only a few members of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes remain: Cap, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Black Widow, along with Nebula and Rocket Raccoon.

Could it be that Thanos’ mass genocide also affected Hawkeye’s family? Remember, Joss Whedon toyed around with Clint’s family home during Age of Ultron, and we all know how much the Russo Brothers like to call back to the MCU of old (see: Red Skull).

So perhaps the sudden death of his wife and kids is enough to bring Hawkeye back to the fold, where he’ll presumably don the Ronin mantle? We’ll find out once Avengers 4 reaches theaters next May.