Hawkeye recently kicked off its festive antics with a bang as the first two episodes were released on the same day to ensure the series concludes before The Book of Boba Fett starts, something which Marvel has only done once before with WandaVision.
For the most part, fans didn't get too much of an idea of where the series is going in the opening chapters, as the focus was instead placed on introducing Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop and establishing her relationship with Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton.
With a total run time of 100 minutes across the two premiere episodes, many would agree that fans were truly treated to a blockbuster opening with a length on par with many theatrical releases. However, in what will prove disappointing to many, a recent rumor has indicated the next two installments will run shorter.
How Long Are Hawkeye Episodes 3 and 4?
Amit Chaudhari, a movie insider from India, shared that Episodes 3 and 4 of Hawkeye will have a total run time of 80 minutes, including the credits and any post-credit scenes. As such, Hawkeye's third and fourth episodes will have a combined average of 40 minutes each.
Given Episode 1 ran for 49 minutes while the second was 51 minutes long, making for a 100-minute total, this leaves the upcoming installments much shorter than expected.
By comparison, the third and fourth episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ran longer than its opening two, while Loki's similarly got shorter, although neither saw any installments as short as 40 minutes.
Marvel Studios Disappoints on Episode Run Times
The total running time of an episode, series, or theatrical release has increasingly become a point of contention among Marvel fans in recent years. Earlier in the years, many grew increasingly frustrated by the short lengths of WandaVision's nine episodes.
Ever since Avengers: Endgame ran for an unprecedented three hours, viewers have continually expected films to be longer than ever. The controversy has been particularly strong, with fans hoping for a similar length from Spider-Man: No Way Home given how many characters are reportedly appearing and how much is expected to happen.
Marvel Studios' past Disney+ series ran between 297 and 357 minutes total when all was said and done. With Hawkeye seemingly coming to a 180-minute total across the first four of its six chapters, the final two episodes could sit at around an hour each if they follow a similar pattern.
With the first two installments having only set the stage for the series, its characters, and its relationships, it's too early to tell where the story could be going. Although fans should expect to get a better idea of Hawkeye's direction across the upcoming shorter episodes, which are bound to be packed with story, action, and surprises.
The first two episodes of Hawkeye are streaming now, exclusively on Disney+.
