After months of speculation, rumors and denials, it’s finally been confirmed that Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) is in final negotiations to join Marvel Studios‘ upcoming film, The Avengers. Renner will play Hawkeye in the Joss Whedon directed film, alongside Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

THR also reports that The Hulk may also be a character in the movie, but at this stage, there is no deal that would bring back Edward Norton, who starred in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk.

Back in December, Renner said of the character:

“I liked it because he wasn’t a superhero, He’s not a guy in tights doing his thing, he’s actually just a regular dude with a highly trained set of skills. I think I can actually connect to that. Not just flying around with a codpiece on or something.”

The Avengers is slated to hit theaters on May 4th, 2012