Director Rhys Thomas, known for his work on Saturday Night Live, was taken aback when approached to potentially collaborate with Marvel on the Hawkeye series. Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Thomas admitted his initial reaction was pragmatic. The chance to work with Marvel—known for its large budgets and high profile—was compelling despite the unexpected nature of the offer. What drew him to Hawkeye was the distinct quality of the character, who differs from typical superheroes by lacking powers and being deeply human.
The show was inspired by Matt Fraction’s comic series, which offers a grounded portrayal of Clint Barton, presenting a man who endures pain, makes mistakes, and struggles with self-worth. This realness in the story, focused on an ordinary man rather than a traditional superhero, was what intrigued Thomas the most.
Creative Process and Pandemic Delays in Developing Hawkeye
Thomas recalled that his first meeting with the Hawkeye production team happened just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike the usual tight schedules, they had no immediate time pressures, allowing him to review scripts and provide feedback over several months. During this period, Thomas pitched the series to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and his team, which led to a significant rewrite of the show.
The production approach deviated from typical Marvel practices. Thomas referenced James Gunn’s statement about DC Studios never beginning production without a completed script, pointing out that for Hawkeye, the process was more flexible. This adaptability supported constant revisions and rewrites throughout the production phase.
Jeremy Renner’s Performance: A Subtle and Intuitive Portrayal
One of the most praised elements of the series was Jeremy Renner’s approach to his role as Clint Barton. Thomas admired Renner’s ability to convey complex emotions with minimal dialogue, often replacing lines with nuanced grunts or expressions. This talent for economy of expression demonstrated an intimate understanding of the character’s inner life.
Jeremy frequently didn’t want say much, you know,
Thomas explained.
His character in the script had all this exposition. We had him saying a lot. He was genius [in] that kind of knowing, ‘I can, I can say that entire paragraph just like this [grunts].’ And he could. Not many people can.
—Rhys Thomas, Director
This interpretation brought authenticity to the role and allowed the series to emphasize the humanity behind the superhero façade. Alongside Hailey Steinfeld, Renner’s grounded performance helped differentiate Hawkeye from other Marvel projects.
Working with Marvel: Creative Flexibility and Production Scale
Thomas valued his collaborative relationship with the production team and Kevin Feige, appreciating the unusual creative freedom he experienced despite Marvel still refining its television production model. The director acknowledged the remarkable scope of the project, especially regarding casting and set design.
He highlighted the ambitious scale of recreating iconic locations in Atlanta, including the construction of the Rockefeller Center ice rink and surrounding plaza for filming purposes.
We built Rockefeller Center in Atlanta. We built the ice rink and the ground for the entire plaza in Atlanta. There are not many places you get to do that. That side of it, of course.
—Rhys Thomas, Director
When questioned about returning to Marvel for future projects, Thomas responded cautiously yet thoughtfully, indicating his experience was valuable but leaving the door open.
Balancing Marvel Work with Other Creative Endeavors
Although Thomas enjoyed his time with the Marvel team, he expressed a strong connection to his long-running mockumentary show, Documentary Now!, co-created alongside Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Seth Meyers. The show, presented by Helen Mirren, aired four seasons from 2015 to 2022.
Thomas shared how the idea to involve Mirren stemmed from wanting an authoritative figure to lend credibility to the mockumentary’s format, creating the illusion of a genuine documentary.
We kept saying Helen Mirren as an example and some day we realized: Why don’t we just ask Helen Mirren? And, weirdly, she said yes.
—Rhys Thomas, Director
I don’t think she realized she was committing to four seasons’ worth of hosting duties, but she’s great,
—Rhys Thomas, Director
Background and Career Path Leading to Marvel
Thomas discussed his transition from the U.K. to New York to pursue filmmaking and how he initially struggled to understand the fast-paced, topical nature of Saturday Night Live. Although unfamiliar with the show during his upbringing, his experience evolved significantly over 12 years at SNL, particularly once he began directing.
He reflected that directing allowed him to bring a fresh sensibility to the production, recognizing his strengths lay behind the camera rather than in front of it.
It’s a live show, it’s topical, it moves quickly,
Thomas said.
It took me a while to understand that context and figure it out. Eight years in, when I finally started directing it, I finally had a sense of it. I also felt I could bring a different sensibility when I had the opportunity to do things, and knew at that point I was not as funny as anyone in front of the camera. My job was to take it as seriously as possible.
—Rhys Thomas, Director
Future Projects and Creative Philosophy
Currently, Thomas is developing several film projects and hopes to direct his second feature film, a decade after his debut with the comedy Staten Island Summer, written by Colin Jost. However, he remains realistic about the unpredictability of the industry.
He emphasized the necessity of persistence and collaboration in television, highlighting the challenges of starting projects from scratch but also his aptitude for providing constructive input.
Nothing is real until you’re actually making it.
—Rhys Thomas, Director
At the same time, with television, what you learn quickly is that you’ve got to keep making your own path, especially if you want to be tonally specific or if your taste is something you’re not seeing. I developed relationships with different writers and showrunners that I’ve worked with over the years, and we sort of continue to develop things together. The idea of starting with a blank page terrifies the hell out of me,
he joked.
But I’m very good at giving notes.
—Rhys Thomas, Director
Thomas also praised the creative freedom he experienced working with indie company A24 on projects like the Romanian Cold War parody Comrade Detective. This contrasted with the scale and structure of Marvel productions and demonstrated his versatility across genres.
Significance and Potential Influence of Thomas’s Marvel Experience
Rhys Thomas’s direction of Hawkeye marks an important moment in Marvel’s unfolding television strategy, especially in its emphasis on character-driven stories and adaptability during uncertain production periods. His collaboration with Jeremy Renner showcases how an actor’s nuanced performance can redefine traditional superhero portrayals, making the hero’s vulnerabilities central to the narrative.
While Thomas remains ambivalent about returning to Marvel, the experiences and lessons gained from the series reflect broader shifts in how superhero content is created, blending blockbuster scale with intimate storytelling. The anticipation for possible future seasons and Thomas’s ongoing film and TV developments suggest his career remains one to watch.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Can Jeremy Renner walk again?
A. Following a year of recovery, Renner overcame over 30 broken bones and relearned to walk on his own. In January, he started acting again for the third season of his drama “Mayor of Kingstown.”
Q. Is Jeremy Renner deaf? I googled him…and he’s hard of hearing, not deaf. That means he has partial hearing.
A. Does Jeremy Renner have some hearing loss?
Q. Can Jeremy Renner see out of both eyes?
A. Thankfully, doctors managed to reconstruct the actor’s eye socket using metal plates and screws. Now, he can see clearly with both eyes again.
Q. Can Jeremy Renner see with both eyes?
A. In a recent chat with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, Renner mentioned, “I think I saw my eye with my other eye” when one popped out. Surgeons fixed his eye socket using metal plates and screws, and now he sees perfectly with both eyes again.
