“The actor who played Hawkeye” – Love Island USA narrator Iain Stirling names his dream contestant

Iain Stirling, the voice behind Love Island USA and Love Island UK, recently revealed which celebrity he would most like to see enter the Villa. In an interview with Parade published on July 10, 2025, Stirling shared that his dream islander would be none other than Jeremy Renner, best known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“The actor who played Hawkeye. Jeremy Renner would be absolutely amazing.”

Stirling said, noting he imagined someone older, wiser, and hunky entering the show to bring maturity and “show how like a lady should be treated.” Love Island USA continues to gain popularity, attracting high-profile fans including Megan Thee Stallion, Kendall Jenner, and Amy Schumer.

With its growth, Stirling also discussed the idea of a celebrity version of the show returning, pointing out that the format actually began with celebrity seasons back in 2005 and 2006.

---

Iain Stirling breaks down how Love Island USA differs from the UK version

Stirling, who splits his time narrating both Love Island USA and Love Island UK, said that there is very little preparation required for his intense two-month work period across both versions.

“No, the only thing we do that’s sort of vaguely preparation is, the week before, we go through everyone’s jobs and just try and think of as many puns and jokes about the people’s occupations as humanly possible,” he told Parade.

According to Stirling, this collection of jokes becomes helpful during moments of narration when content is sparse. He emphasized that some jobs make for better comedy and compared contestants from both versions.

“When it comes to jobs, the UK is much better for it. We’ve got dog walkers and gardeners and all sorts of funny people,” he added.

Stirling observed a clear cultural difference in how contestants behave on Love Island USA compared to Love Island UK, particularly when it comes to physical affection. He explained that American islanders are more open with kissing, often doing so early on when meeting someone new.

In contrast, he said that on the UK version, kissing outside of a challenge carries more weight and is treated as a more serious step in forming a relationship. Additionally, Stirling observed a shift in how male contestants express themselves, especially on Love Island USA.

“Men are speaking about their feelings and stuff is certainly more prevalent on the US one, or at least having this sort of verbal dexterity to express how they feel,” he said.

---

Stirling reflects on shifting dynamics and evolving dating habits in Love Island USA

Stirling also commented on the different pacing and relationship dynamics of Love Island USA this season compared to the previous one. He explained that this variation could stem from numerous factors, such as age, changing dating habits, or even the lack of a strong romantic connection with anyone in the Villa.

Referencing this season’s Love Island USA couples, Stirling noted the absence of a “closed off” couple going into Casa Amor.

“We sort of had Taylor and Olandria, but they weren’t official,” he said.

He drew a comparison to Love Island UK, pointing to a similar situation with the couple Meg and Dejon, who were “quite close, but not officially closed off.” Stirling added that some of these changes could be attributed to shifts in generational behavior.

“It could be the sort of age of the people going in there and their dating habits. Maybe a little bit of the formative dating years through lockdown,” he said.

As for the possibility of a celebrity version of the show, Stirling was open to the idea. “I think a celebrity version would be incredible,” he told Parade. He humorously suggested that producers take the cast of The Traitors and throw them into the Villa after their show wraps.

“So you have them all trying to stab each other in the back, and then you put them all in a communal bedroom for another four weeks after that,” he joked.

---

Fans can stream Love Island USA on Peacock.