One of last year’s most festive shows was, without a doubt, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. The series marked the first holiday story since Iron Man 3 and introduced Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop to the world. Many new characters came into play as well, including Vera Farmiga’s Eleanor Bishop, and Alaqua Cox’s Echo - even Vincent D’Onofrio returned as Kingpin. Another big figure from the comics brought to the silver screen was Tony Dalton’s Jack Duquesne.
In the comics, Duquesne, otherwise known as the Swordsman, is a villain turned hero who previously trained Clint Barton as he grew up in the circus. While the two eventually butted heads more than once, Hawkeye’s mentor actually went on to become a temporary Avenger.
However, the version of the character that audiences saw in the Disney+ project was certainly not what he is in the comics. In fact, the writers used the knowledge to pose him as a red herring.
But what are the chances that Dalton’s fencer may return in a project down the line? Well, the actor himself shared a brief response on the matter.
Will Swordsman Appear Again In the MCU?
In an interview with Inverse, Hawkeye actor Tony Dalton talked about his time as Jack Duquesne on last year’s Marvel Studios Disney+ series.
The actor admitted that being a part of Marvel Studios' cinematic universe was “one of the best things that you can ask for as an actor,” as he was able to play a character with whom the “audience is emotionally involved with:”
“That’s one of the best things that you can ask for as an actor… that’s one of the reasons why you do it. You want to play a character that has some kind of connection with the audience, one that is believable, and that the audience is emotionally involved with.”
When asked if he would ever return to the role, Dalton excitedly replied, “Yes, of course, it’d be great!”
As for what his character was like in the project he filmed, the actor mentioned how his role was “more melodramatic than the other characters” on the show:
“I was a little more mysterious and a little more melodramatic than the other characters because, at the end of the day, I’m supposed to be the guy who isn’t who you think he is on the show.”
Dalton revealed how even he was “kept in the dark,” and that director Rhys Thomas’ guidance helped him navigate Marvel Studios’ “secretive” ways:
“They’re so secretive about the episodes and about what’s going to happen that you basically just know what you’re going to do with your character with the episode that you get a script for—that one or two episodes—and everything else is kept in the dark until you’re told you’re in the next episode.”
Fans Should Expect Jack to be Back
With how Marvel Studios, and the MCU in general, functions, fans should expect that every character on screen is fair game to return at some point in the future; yes, even the dead ones. Especially given his comics history, Dalton’s Swordsman is no doubt on the very top of the list when it comes to characters due to return from Hawkeye.
But what will his future be? With how that last episode played out, this version of the character does seem a bit goofier than his comics counterpart. But maybe this is what Marvel wants everyone to think. Could him being the red herring be the true red herring?
As fun as his role was in Hawkeye, it would be a shame if that was all Swordsman ended up being in the MCU. Hopefully the show gets a second season and he will play a big role in the proceedings.
If the series doesn’t get a continuation, well, then maybe Valentina Allegra de Fontaine could use his superb fencing skills.
Hawkeye is now streaming on Disney+.
