Forget Avengers 4: Is Hawkeye back in Ant-Man and the Wasp? Who is Goliath?

Back in March 2017 there were already major rumours that Hawkeye would return in Ant-Man 2. 

Our interest was then reignited when the first Avengers 4 artwork was leaked. Not only is it the first clear look at Hawkeye from Marvel since Civil War, just look who is charging into battle at his side in the image below. 

Of course, this proves nothing concrete, until Ant-Man’s very own Wasp made an intriguing comment online.

Lilly was posting about the current debate in the US over net neutrality when she referenced Thanos and Goliath. Fans have been eagerly hoping the second would appear ever since the GOLIATH project was first mentioned.

Lilly posted to Instagram: “For those of you who are confused – we had to win the senate before we could tackle the house. We DID win the senate and that was INCREDIBLE, now let’s do it all over again.

“That was Goliath, now we’re facing Thanos. Don’t let them censor and throttle us. Let’s get loud. Let’s win again. #netneutrality”

Project GOLIATH features in the comics as Hank Pym’s experiments with the Pym Particles to make objects much larger. There is also a character called Goliath, who is played at various times by heroes like Hank Pym and Clint Barton.

Yes, Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye…

Could Hawkeye really cameo in Ant-Man and the Wasp?

Within teh main Avengers timeline, the movie is set after Civil War but before Infinity War. We now know trhat Barton agreed to lay down his weapons in return for immunity for his family.

But did he really stay hidden away in his farmhouse all that time?

So far there has been no sign of Hawkeye in any Ant-Man 2 materials. Back in March 2017 when those first rumours surfaced, they were quickly denied.

While most Marvel film makers seem to enjoy the endless swirl of rumour and theories, Ant-Man director Peyton Reed didn’t waste any time jumping onto social media.

He posted a single blunt tweet saying: “The Russians are swarm-tweeting that Hawkeye is in ANT-MAN AND THE WASP. #FakeNews.”

The Goliath idea is tantalising but seems rather too complicated when Barton is already heavily tipped to become Ronin in Avengers 4. It looks like fans will have to wait almost a year before they finally see Renner back in the MCU.

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP IS OUT IN THE UK ON AUGUST 3