What began as a creative partnership between Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou and Marvel actor Jeremy Renner on the projects Chronicles of Disney and Stardust Future has escalated into a major scandal. The collaboration, initially promising, has now drawn public attention due to serious accusations of misconduct.
Yi Zhou is a Chinese director, writer, and producer celebrated for experimental short films presented at major festivals like Sundance and Cannes. She has also held solo art exhibitions and collaborated with international brands, including Chanel, Hennessy, and Bobbi Brown.
Zhou recently accused actor Jeremy Renner, known for portraying Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, of sexual harassment, intimidation, and threats of deportation. The conflict has sparked widespread discussion about abuse within collaborations between Hollywood stars and international filmmakers.
According to Yi Zhou, Renner contacted her in June 2025 after seeing her work, allegedly sending “personal and intimate photographs” and proposing “a long-term romantic relationship.”
Zhou stated that she agreed to collaborate professionally, formalizing contracts that granted the use of Renner’s image, likeness, archival footage, and social media material for the joint projects.
A collaboration between Yi Zhou and Jeremy Renner on two film projects collapsed amid serious allegations, casting a harsh light on power dynamics behind Hollywood partnerships.