We spoke with Renner about his new thriller, his producing plans and, of course, Hawkeye.
Den of Geek: Tell me a little bit about what you saw in this character.
Hes obviously tormented by his past.
He hasnt let it consume him, but he struggles with it every day.
Ad content continues below
Jeremy Renner:I always found that to be very interesting.
Hes a very actionable guy in not being consumed by something.
You could see the opposite effect in his ex-wife.
How her life is almost utterly destroyed and it consumes her.
Which is simply when you have loss, you kind of want to stay busy.
Had you seenHell or High WaterandSicario?
Taylors said that these three movies sort of form a trilogy.
Do you see the way that this one connects to the other two?
I guess in more thematic terms.
I couldnt perform my duties, and this job, and this character and the story thinking about those.
Its not something I thought about in making the picture.
Its only in reflection now I can see that.
The technical stuff of it was pretty easy.
Just information about tracking, things like that.
All those sort of things are little quick, easy learns.
I had to figure out more what that job was for him.
I had to get really good on a sled.
I was okay on one, but I had to get a lot better.
Im much more of an outdoors guy for sure.
I live in an environment thats very similar to that in North Lake Tahoe.
I actually enjoyed it.
What was the most challenging part of it for you, if there was one?
The scene towards the end of the movie, on top of that ridge, is above 12,000 feet.
It was difficult for the crew, for everyone just to get there.
Theres a small little sliver of the ridge that we had to do this scene on where everybodys cabled.
It was a big, important scene, and we only had X amount of time to shoot it.
Theres a lot of pressure to get it right.
Theres a lot of pressures on us, I suppose, in getting in and out of there.
But Im happy with it.
Is that the wheelhouse where you feel most comfortable?
Yeah, I think they help each other.
Those movies that are in my wheelhouse, if you will, arent easy to get made.
But with the big movies, it certainly does help get those others movies made.
Theyre important to me and theyre not comfortable to me, theyre uncomfortable.
Thats why I like them.
Theyre challenging and theyre thoughtful and I love them because of that.
Speaking of big movies, we missed you down at Comic Con last weekend.
Some of your partners were down there.
Are you done with yourInfinity Warscenes, or do you have to go back to Atlanta at any point?
Yeah, Im going back in a week, I think.
We start up on (Avengers 4).
Theyve kind of blended3and4together a little bit.
Ill be busy for the rest of the year.
Where are these next two films going go to take him?
Theres a lot of great change and a lot of things turned upside down on their heads.
I really cant wait to go explore where theyre putting Clint.
Im pretty excited, but I know very little about it.
I havent seen the script or anything.
Only what the Russo brothers have told me what they want to do, and its pretty amazing.
I cant wait to go explore it.
The other thing I saw you were filming isTag.
I think most of my work is done on it.
Is comedy something you would like to do more of?
Yeah, Im just exploring it, having some fun, and being challenged.
Its a different side.
You also producedThe Founderwith Michael Keaton.
Any more producing projects in your future?
Itll be theBreaking Badof the West.
Well see if we can get that off the ground.
Wind Riveris out in theaters this Friday (August 4).
