While it was
reported over the weekend that
How I Met Your Mother actress Cobie Smulders, was a front-runner for a role in Joss Whedon's crossover phenomenon
The Avengers,
The Hollywood Reporter has now reported:
Cobie Smulders is in final negotiations to take on a role in Marvel's The Avengers. Smulders will play a key member of the espionage agency SHIELD, run by Nick Fury, who appeared in the first two Iron Man films in the guise of Samuel L. Jackson. Like Jackson, Smulders will have a slew of options on her for the character, which could extend through any number of other Marvel Universe film projects.
Regarding her role, in the same report that indicated that Smulders was a front-runner, also included that she'd portray Maria Hill, the ruthless interim executive director of SHIELD. Although, in
Avengers, she'll be considered a shadow of Nick Fury. But surly, her role would get expanded throughout the franchise.
Anyhow, Cobie Smulders joins Robert Downey Jr.(Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Kevin Pennington(undisclosed), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), and Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), with Joss Whedon assembling
The Avengers in theaters May 4, 2012.