Cobie Smulders Could Return As Maria Hill In Joss Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D.

The biggest problem with being an actor on a successful television show is that it limits your flexibility. If you are contracted to shoot a series for a number of months out of every year than that's going to affect your scheduling and your availability for other projects - be it movies or other TV shows. But while Cobie Smulders has her role on the ratings hit How I Met Your Mother, her commitments didn't prevent her from playing Agent Maria Hill in Joss Whedon's The Avengers last year and apparently she's available for even more action in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The actress is currently doing press for the upcoming Nicholas Sparks adaptation Safe Haven and when asked by I Am Rogue if she would be available to have any involvement in the pilot-stage S.H.I.E.L.D. series over at ABC she actually left the door open to the possibility. Asked if her commitments to the CBS sitcom would interfere with any ability to star in the new Whedon show Smulders said, "The commitments to [How I Met Your Mother] don’t affect it. And I can’t really say, but there are definite talks about it." But while she didn't - or more accurately, couldn't - elaborate on what her role would entail, she is evidently anticipating playing the role again. "I’m very excited," she said. "I will do Maria Hill until they fire me and hire someone else to do it."

Smulder's part in the S.H.I.E.L.D. series may be questionable, but it has been confirmed she will return as Agent Hill in the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In the meantime she can be seen back on How I Met Your Mother, which aired the first episode in the second half of their eighth season last week.

Eric Eisenberg
Assistant Managing Editor

NJ native who calls LA home and lives in a Dreamatorium. A decade-plus CinemaBlend veteran who is endlessly enthusiastic about the career he’s dreamt of since seventh grade.