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While fans are still a few episodes away from going into Red String Theory mode over Disney Plus's brand-new Hawkeye series, there are still a few noteworthy theories bouncing around Reddit and Twitter. Hawkeye premiered on Wednesday, November 24 with two episodes. Streaming on Disney Plus, this series brings back Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, the titular superhero. It also introduces Hailee Steinfeld's fawn-eyed Kate Bishop, a young adult who idolizes Hawkeye and yearns for his mentorship. She's also a martial art championship and wannabe vigilante.
The duo finds themselves in deep trouble after Kate gets her hands on the Ronin suit, found in the shattered remains of the Avengers Compound (ouch). Trying to get his disguise back, Clint tracks her down and saves her from being terrorized by the Tracksuit Mafia. However, by the end of the second episode, the two are knee-deep in their antics and trapped in the gang's hiding spot. Satisfied with their capture, the group turns to leader: Echo.
Now, if there's one thing Marvel Studios consistently gets right, it's creating a hub for fan engagement. With 26 films and five streaming series, the interconnectedness of this content becomes muddled among fan forums, fanfiction websites, social media stan accounts, and other online gathering spaces. Fans are able to converse with one another over first impressions, the fate of their beloved characters, and potential storylines — oftentimes abandoning canon and creating their own multiverses. Despite Hawkeye having only dropped two episodes, many are already theorizing about what will happen in the next four episodes. Game Rant has pulled together five fan theories that sort of make sense, based on the Marvel formula, the happenings in Hawkeye thus far, and its source material (Matt Fraction and David Aja's comic book run).
Kate Bishop's Mother Killed Her Father
One of the most plausible theories that has gained popularity online is that Kate Bishop's mother, Eleanor Bishop, killed her father. In the miniseries, Eleanor is played by The Conjuring's Vera Farmiga. We're first introduced to her in a flashback to 2012 when the Bishop household is under attack during the Chitauri Invasion. Prior to that moment, the Bishop parents were arguing over wanting to relocate out of Manhattan to resolve some financial complications.
But what was off about this scene? Well, during the attack, elementary-school-aged Kate was left to fend for herself in the ruins of her home for an extended period of time. Clint saves her life, her mother eventually grabs her, and the next time the viewers see the duo together it's at her father's funeral. Fans online are speculating that Eleanor killed her deceased husband, Derek Bishop, to secure his insurance money or that the father faked his own death for the same reason.
Clint Barton Killed Echo's Father
Daddy issues are a major theme in Marvel movies. Just look at Tony Stark, Gamora, Thor — this subconscious drive to live up to parental expectations has led them on trails of self-destruction and fits of homicidal rage. Multiple Twitter fans have been predicting that Clint killed Echo's father, but there seem to be two popular options: Echo's father, Willie "Crazy Horse" Lincoln, was a casualty in Clint's takedown of crime in Mexico (as mentioned in Avengers: Endgame) or that Clint killed Kingpin (a villain featured in Marvel's Daredevil) who was raising Echo.
Kingpin Hired Val
Staying in the Kingpin boat, Hawkeye viewers are certain that the series will introduce a crossover into the Daredevil territory, given Echo's origins. One Twitter fan suspected that Kingpin is the one who hired Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Black Widow. It has already been revealed that Val has recruited Yelena to track down Clint, blaming him for the death of Natasha Romanoff. However, now fans are thinking that Val was hired by the powerful crime lord Kingpin in an act of revenge.
Who Owns Avengers Tower
Teased briefly in Hawkeye, Clint revealed that Tony Stark had sold the Avengers Tower. Ouch, another blow. First, the Starks left post-blip Sam Wilson broke in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and now the home of the Avengers no longer exists. A word with Pepper Potts is needed, please. This revelation left fans wondering one thing: Who owns the Avengers Tower? And what if it's in the wrong hands? The latter question was exacerbated given that Ronin's sword and suit were discovered in the remains of the tower, so obviously it wasn't swept well of potentially-dangerous artifacts.
Popular fan theories pinpoint Reed Richard and Kingpin as new owners of the tower. Norman Osborn has also been named a few times, given his upcoming appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Jack Duquesne Has Connections To The Circus
Saving the best, it's time to tackle Jack Duquesne, Eleanor Bishop's new husband. This man is dripping in villain material. Jack collects swords from illegal markets, made a joke about inheritance money moments before his uncle's mysterious death, and he has a mustache that screams "I'm evil". He also continuously makes comments about his impending step-father-hood to Kate despite her obvious discomfort.
It has been confirmed that Jack will be eventually introduced as Swordsman, Clint's mentor during his time growing up in the criminal circus, but how much of that storyline will Marvel Studios use? Fans are theorizing that they will embrace the backstory and go full-circus, bringing in the storyline featured in Fraction's comic books where the criminals return to New York City to rob the wealthy.
Hawkeye is currently streaming on Disney Plus.