Hollywood star Jeremy Renner has opened up on the real reason why he did not return to Disney's Hawkeye. The 54-year-old actor admitted that he made the decision after the producers offered him an "insulting" amount of money, following a snowplough accident that almost cost him his life.

During an appearance on the High Performance podcast, Renner explained: "They asked me to do season two, and they offered me half the money. I’m like, 'wow, it’s going to take me twice the amount of work for half the amount of money'. Eight months of my time, essentially, and you do it for half the amount?

"I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, why? Did you think I’m only half the Jeremy because I got ran over?’ Is that why want to pay me half of what I made on the first season?" He went on to add: "And this is not Marvel. My juice is like this Disney - not even really Disney, it’s just the penny pinchers, the accountants.

"I told him to go fly a kite at the insult offer. And so we didn’t see eye to eye on it, sadly. I still love the character, I would still love to do it, but I had to defend myself.

"I didn’t ask for any more money, mind you. Just pay me what you paid me the first season. So it’s a little disheartening that didn’t happen, but that’s fine. I’m happy to let that go, because my body’s probably thanking me that I’m not doing that right now."

Jeremy broke 38 bones in his body, and suffered from a collapsed lung and a pierced liver, after being crushed by a snowplough on New Year's Day 2023. He still experiences lingering discomfort but he previously insisted he doesn't mind the pain because it is "awesome" just to be alive.

He told People magazine: "My swollen ankles, my back that keeps going out or my jaw that just can't seem to bite down right, it's a great reminder of an attitude that got me to here in the first place.

"It's awesome. This is why I can't have a bad day. I know what a bad day feels like." Express.co.uk have contacted Disney for comment.