It's been long speculated and rumored that Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker") would join the cast of Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" (assuming Whedon is really directing it) as the expert marksman Hawkeye, but that talk died down when it appeared he'd be joining the Universal tentpole "Battleship."  Instead, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Renner is trying to work "The Avengers" around Paul Thomas Anderson's continually delayed untitled Scientology drama. 

"The Avengers" would find Renner as Clint Barton, a non-powered hero who initially started out as a misguided villain when he debuted in Marvel Comics over 40 years ago.  Hawkeye would join Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and War Machine (Don Cheadle) in the ensemble hero flick.  It appears Marvel is keen on including The Hulk, but they have still not agreed to a deal that would bring Ed Norton into the mix.

"The Avengers" currently has a May 4, 2012 release date.