Jeremy Renner says he was ‘treated like a child’ on set after horror snowplow accident

Jeremy Renner has opened up about the impact a near-death snowplow accident had on his life and career.

Jeremy Renner back to work after snowplow accident.

Jeremy Renner has opened up about the impact a near-death snowplow accident had on his career when he returned to filming for the first time.

The actor went back to work in January, exactly one year after he was run over by a large snowplow when trying to save his young nephew from being crushed near Renner’s holiday home in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Instead, the vehicle hit the Marvelstar, leaving him in the intensive care unit with 38 broken bones, a collapsed lung and significant blunt chest trauma.

Jeremy Renner was left with 38 broken bones and a collapsed lung after being run over by a snowplow in January 2023. Picture: ABC

The actor was trying to save his nephew at the time when the vehicle crushed him instead. Picture: ABC

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times this week, the 53-year-old said things will never be the same for him on-set as his physical abilities are restricted.

Indeed, upon returning to film the series Mayor of Kingstown, his crew treated him differently.

“They have to treat me like I’m a child actor,” he told the publication. “The mayor of Kingstown is now like a 14-year-old.”

Renner even recalled falling asleep during takes on his first week back at work.

“They go, ‘And action!’ And I was out,” he shared. “We discovered they worked me too hard, too many hours, too many days in a row. What I’m willing to do is everything, but what I’m able to do is a different thing.”

Renner returned to the set of Mayor of Kingstown one year on from his accident.

The actor recalled his mother was also asked by Mayor of Kingstown co-creator Hugh Dillion for permission for him to return as Renner himself was unsure.

“To try to create some truth and then get the audience to believe it, while I’m just trying to learn to walk again, to put one foot in front of the other and not get up in agony,” he explained.

Renner said his physical abilities on-set have now diminished. Picture: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images/AFP

The actor, known for his roles The Hurt Locker and Iron Man, says he wasn’t sure he’d return to acting. Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images

“I’m doing all these things to find my footing on the planet again. The idea of going into a fictional world — I have to be honest with you, I had to really consider, Is this something I really want to do?”

But production made changes to accommodate the recovering star, including changing the gruelling shooting schedule to allow Renner to stretch in between takes. And he is also thankful to his medical team and family for their ongoing support.

“It took the collective of all these people. That’s the power of love. It’s a slow burn. Man, I tell you,” he said.

“I’m alive. I’m walking through life with a smile on my face. And there’s nothing that’s ever going to change that. Nothing. It’s impossible for me to have a bad day.”

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Originally published as Jeremy Renner says he was ‘treated like a child’ on set after horror snowplow accident