In a recent interview Samuel L. Jackson revealed that he would be reading as Nick Fury in auditions with actresses for an unspecified role in The Avengers. The logical assumption for any comic book fan is that the role must be for Maria Hill, the ruthless hero-hating soldier that eventually took the role of leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. from Fury. Deadline has confirmed those fan boy assumptions.

Deadline reports that Cobie Smulders, best known for her role as Robin Scherbatsky on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, is nearing a deal to take the role.