Cobie Smulders to play Maria Hill in The Avengers movie (2012)?

Samuel L. Jackson let it be known that they were screen testing actresses for his sidekick in The Avengers movie on Friday, when he appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

While the role was not known, the actresses were Cobie Smulders, Jessica Lucas, Mary Elizabeth Winstead – and “V’s “Morena Baccarin who was thought to be the frontrunner, as she worked with The Avengers director Joss Whedon previously on Firefly and Serenity.

Now, Deadline.com reports that Cobie Smulders is up for the role of Maria Hill and that by the time the weekend ends she should be signed.

Deadline reports that Smulders also has a connection to Whedon as she was a choice to play Wonder Woman when that movie was rumored a go.

Smulders stars in How I Met Your Mother, appeared in the 2005 Andromeda sci-fi show and even an episode of Smallville in 2004.

In the comics Maria Hill is a SHIELD Agent that takes over leadership of SHIELD after Nick Fury goes into hiding. She has no reservations in regards to doing what it takes to get her job done – even leading to a confrontation with Captain America when the government signs the Super Hero Registration Act. Cap, who is against the Registration Act, refuses to work with Hill stating it will divide the heroes. She orders Cap to be detained, which leads to not only the firs Avenger going underground to lead the Heroes – but his death.

Stay tuned to CBN as more news on The Avengers develops!

The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon, is due out May 4th, 2012 starring Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner.