Marvel has released the first trailer for the upcoming Disney+ series Hawkeye, which features the long-awaited return of the Avengers' resident archer, Clint Barton, to the small screen. Only this time, Clint won't be the only archer in town. The television series will also introduce Kate Bishop to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who is bound to carry the Hawkeye mantle, just like she has in the comics. The trailer for Hawkeye quickly brings Clint and Kate together, as the duo takes on multiple villains during the holiday season.
While there is still much we don't know about Hawkeye's Story; we do know that Clint will essentially groom Kate to become the MCU's new Hawkeye. That much becomes all but clear in the trailer when Clint recreates his most iconic move from 2012's The Avengers -- with Kate in tow.
In the Hawkeye trailer, Clint Barton starts teaching Kate Bishop the tricks of the superhero trade, from taking on multiple bad guys to selecting the perfect trick arrow. While Kate goes through a learning curve in the first look at the series, by the time the trailer comes to an end, it's clear she has what it takes to become the new Hawkeye when she and Clint begin a slow descent toward a body of water. As this happens, the television series essentially recreates Hawkeye's signature move from 2012's The Avengers, as Clint gets ready to let loose a grappling arrow that will break their fall.
The two turn toward the camera as they fall, a moment that will undoubtedly look familiar to MCU fans. During the final battle between Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the Chitauri in The Avengers, Clint was stationed on top of a building, coordinating attacks and firing arrows on all the aliens in the reach of his bow. Eventually, the archer attracted the attention of the Chitauri, and they opened fire on his location. Clint ran and jumped down the building to escape, turning toward the camera as he fired a grappling arrow that would allow him to smash through a window and save himself.
This particular Hawkeye move became iconic for the cinematic portrayal of the character. At the time, Clint Barton had only a brief cameo appearance in 2011's Thor, meaning that The Avengers featured his first full MCU role and his debut as an Avenger. While all previous characters had the chance to shine, The Avengers served as an introductory movie for Hawkeye, showing audiences what the character was capable of doing and why he earned a position alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Hawkeye's fall was one of the character's most memorable shots in the film, and it became a signature of sorts.
In fact, the moment was so iconic that it was even recreated in the comics. In August 2012, a few months following the release of The Avengers, a new Hawkeye comic book series by the creative team of Matt Fraction and David Aja dropped. Issue #1 opened with a full splash page of Hawkeye falling from a building and firing a grappling arrow to catch himself. And most interestingly, this is the same comic book run that would, in turn, serve as inspiration for the Hawkeye television series.
It's all come full circle with the Disney+ series recreating that iconic move. But this time, Clint has his new protégé in tow. If she is to become the new Hawkeye, then she has to go through the same crucible and learn to perform his most epic move. The final shot of the trailer essentially serves as a microcosm of what this series will be about: Hawkeye will be a show about legacy. And here, we can see the beginning of him passing the torch.
Hawkeye premieres Nov. 24 on Disney+. The series will run for a total of six episodes, concluding on Dec. 29.