Cobie Smulders Officially Cast in THE AVENGERS as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill
I just wanted to quickly let you know that Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) has officially been cast as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill in Marvel's big screen adaptation of The Avengers. News broke this weekend that she was the top choice to take on the role, and now she's landed it. It seems like fans are pretty happy with the casting decision. I think she'll do great in the role.
The actress has also been loosely referenced in connection to a unproduced Wonder Woman film when Avengers director Joss Whedon was attached.
Previously reported:
Maria Hill is the character that Samuel L. Jackson recently revealed would be in the movie as Nick Fury's sidekick. But Hill isn't really a sidekick character at all, she was actually a director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
What do you think about Smulders being cast in the role of Maria Hill?
Here's a detailed rundown of the character Maria Hill for those who are unfamiliar:
Originally from Chicago Maria Hill joined SHIELD and rose to the position of commander. After Colonel Nicholas Fury's "Secret War" Maria was chosen to be director of SHIELD by the President himself after he commended her on her work while she was stationed on assignment in Madripoor. Although many others who she herself admitted were better suited for position were not considered for directorship she was assigned director. It has emerged that Maria was chosen as the other candidates were "Fury Loyalists" and SHIELD needed "new direction".
At first Hill had her differences with Iron Man (Tony Stark) and the New Avengers. Mainly due to the fact they withheld information on the "House of M" event leading to "M-Day". After Hill arrested Spider-Man, unmasked him and used SHIELD psychics agents to probe his mind for information regarding the "House of M" events, Maria redeemed herself to them by not following the presidents advice and bombing the island of Genosha to disable a current threat as the Avengers were present at the time.
Before the "Superhuman Registration Act" was passed as law, Hill met with Captain America (Steve Rogers) aboard the helicarrier and proposed that he lead the Avengers within the law and arrest anyone who would not comply. Captain America declined her offer, stating that he would not arrest people who risk their lives for their country every day of the week. Upon his failure to comply Hill ordered her superhuman response team or "cape killers" to tranquilize Captain America. During the scuffle Rogers avoided being tranquilized and escaped becoming the de facto leader of the Secret Avengers.
After the "Civil War" had ended Hill stepped down as director giving the position to Iron Man Tony Stark and has resumed her duties as commander for SHIELD.