According to the Hollywood Reporter’s Heatvision Blog, Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner is in “final negotiations” to join the Marvel Universe as the purple-clad archer “Hawkeye”.

Clint Barton was originally a villain until he saw the light and joined up with the Avengers.  The Ultimate iteration of the character had him as a Black-Ops marksman of unnatural skill.  Either version of the character could be compelling in the new Marvel film universe.

My only concern?

Renner’s involvement was initially rumored last fall, although the actor, who was in the middle of the awards derby with his war thriller “The Hurt Locker,” was at the time more taken with Paul Thomas Anderson’s untitled drama and was being heavily courted by Universal for “Battleship.”

Renner never joined “Battleship,” and while he still has definite interest in Anderson’s film, that project is still cobbling financing and has seen its start pushed back several times.

Renner saw a chance to take on work in a role that, while key, is not starring in nature and will allow him to slide into Anderson’s film if it should come together.

To keep costs manageable for the “Avengers,” Marvel is trying to keep a lid on the movie’s finances and the actors are taking salary cuts, according to insiders.

That’s right.  If this interferes with anything PT Anderson wants to do, I’m all against it.