Hawkeye Underwent Massive Changes Before Filming

Wonder Man showrunner reveals Clint Barton's spin-off show was rewritten just weeks before production began.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 12:47am

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In a recent podcast interview, Wonder Man showrunner Andrew Guest disclosed that the Hawkeye series went through significant changes shortly before filming was set to begin. Guest explained that he was brought in late in the process, with the producers telling him they wanted to "rewrite the whole thing" with only a week and a half until production started in New York. This led to major alterations, including reworking the dynamic between Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton and Hailee Steinfeld's character, which was originally written too young.

Why it matters

The last-minute rewrites and changes to Hawkeye highlight the challenges of producing content within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where interconnected storylines and tight production timelines can create pressure-filled situations. Guest's successful handling of the Hawkeye revisions, as well as his work on the well-received Wonder Man series, demonstrates his ability to navigate the complexities of the MCU.

The details

According to Guest, he was brought in as the "last call" the producers could make to help get Hawkeye ready for production. The show had already gone through multiple rewrites in a writer's room, but the producers felt major changes were still needed, including reworking the dynamic between Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton and Hailee Steinfeld's character, which was originally written too young. Guest said there were also "a lot of extra twists and turns that were sort of gumming up the works" that needed to be addressed before filming could begin in New York just a week and a half later.

  • The producers told Guest they wanted to rewrite the whole show and start shooting in New York in a week and a half.

The players

Andrew Guest

The showrunner for the Marvel series Wonder Man, who was brought in late in the process to help rewrite and reshape the Hawkeye series.

Jeremy Renner

The actor who plays Clint Barton/Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hailee Steinfeld

The actress who plays Kate Bishop, Clint Barton's protégé, in the Hawkeye series.

Trinh Tran

An executive producer on the Hawkeye series.

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What they’re saying

“I came in towards the end. I mean, they had had a writer's room. They had rewritten [the show] after that writer's room a couple of times. I was literally the last call they could make to anybody.”

— Andrew Guest, Wonder Man showrunner

“She says, 'I'm going to send you six one-hour episodes. I want to meet tomorrow to talk about it. We start shooting in New York in a week and a half, and we want to rewrite the whole thing.'”

— Andrew Guest, Wonder Man showrunner

“You know, Hailee Steinfeld's character was written too young. The dynamic between her and Jeremy wasn't there. There was a lot of extra twists and turns that were sort of gumming up the works. I needed their help as much as they needed mine. And we got through that process.”

— Andrew Guest, Wonder Man showrunner

What’s next

While the future of a second season of Hawkeye remains uncertain, Guest's successful work on the first season and the acclaimed Wonder Man series suggests he could be a valuable asset in shaping any potential future Hawkeye projects.

The takeaway

The last-minute rewrites and changes to Hawkeye highlight the challenges of producing content within the tightly interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe, where tight timelines and high expectations can create pressure-filled situations. Guest's ability to navigate these complexities and deliver a well-received final product demonstrates his talent and versatility as a showrunner.