Clint Barton’s Family Is Why Hawkeye Is Set During Christmas

The Holiday season is as important a character as any in Hawkeye. Executive producer Trinh Tran reveals that this goes hand in hand with Clint Barton being a family man.

While deciding the setting of each of Marvel’s Disney+ shows, there was a debate on whose story would suit best being told during Christmas. Although WandaVision did have one Christmas-themed episode, others like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki, and What If…? couldn’t capitalize on the holidays.

But other than being a fun element, Tran explains that the Holiday season just holds more significance for a character like Barton, who is usually seen away from his wife and kids, risking it all on deadly missions.

The ultimatum came during The Blip, when Barton lost his whole family for five years. His grief turned him into his ruthless alter-ego Ronin, who unbeknownst to him would come to bite him in the back in Hawkeye.

(Arguably, it’s also because of Ronin that he was able to power through and get them back by teaming up with the Avengers.)

Tran states that since this is the first Christmas Barton spends with his family, the pressure to make this right is incredibly high.

And the big question of the series is if he’s going to be able to make it home in time in order to do so. So there’s that big weight that he’s trying to figure out as he’s stuck elsewhere. He’s trying to deal with something that has put him on this mission and he has to figure out how to get out of it.

Trinh Tran

This also aligns with the fact that Marvel made the initiative of changing part of Barton’s comic book backstory to include him having children. This exploration into his family life and how crucial it is to him drives home Marvel’s decision on his characterization.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Disney+, on its own, is building a collection of Holiday-themed shows, specials, and movies. Along with Hawkeye, Marvel will also be adding to Disney’s Christmas list with their The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on December 10.

Hawkeye is set to premiere in just a few days. Catch the first two episodes on November 24.

About Hawkeye

Hawkeye is an upcoming television miniseries for the Disney+ streaming service. Created by Jonathan Igla, it is based on the Marvel comic character of the same name. The show will feature Clint Barton aka. Hawkeye and newcomer Kate Bishop who will eventually become the next Hawkeye.

Cast members include Jeremy Renner who will be reprising his role as Barton, and Hailee Steinfeld will be playing Kate Bishop. Additional cast includes Vera Farmiga, Fra Fee, and Florence Pugh, who too will reprise her role from the unreleased “Black Widow”. Hawkeye is scheduled to be released in November 2021.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter