We heard over the weekend that Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) was close to landing the role of S.H.I.E.L.D. executive director Maria Hill in The Avengers, intended as a sidekick of sorts for Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury.  Variety confirms that Smulders is wrapping up a deal with Marvel to appear as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in up to nine films.  The character's name isn't specified, but the bio -- "Character would work closely with Jackson's Nick Fury, and eventually becomes the head of the espionage and law enforcement group" -- sounds very similar to that of Ms. Hill.I love Smulders on HIMYM -- partly because Cobie Smulders is an awesome name, but mostly because of her endless charisma.  I don't know how big the role will actually be, but I'm excited to see Smulders in a film of this size.  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and Jeremy Renner star in The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon and scheduled for release on May 4, 2012.  Hit the jump for a brief character bio on Maria Hill.

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.”[Marvel Wiki]

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