Another piece may have just fallen into place for Marvel Studios and Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, and one more character has been cast. The role of Nick Fury’s sidekick has been offered to How I Met Your Mother’s Cobie Smulders.
Last week we reported that the role that Samuel L. Jackson had leaked on The Jimmy Fallon Show was between four actresses: Jessica Lucas (The Covenant, Melrose Place), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, the upcoming The Thing), Morena Baccarin (Firefly, V) and Smulders. Jackson was scarce on the details, but that didn’t stop the intertubes from buzzing with support and condemnation of each actress.
The exact nature of the role and who exactly she will play wasn’t announced, but Jackson described the character as being a sidekick of sorts to Nick Fury, prompting speculation that the character would be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Beyond that any hints as to which S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, have just been speculation.
Variety is reporting that Smulders has been offered the role, and the actress is reportedly in negotiations to accept, meaning it seems to be just a matter of agreeing on a price. Once she takes the job, it will be a major commitment as the contract will be for a nine-picture deal.
This would not be the first time that Smulders and director Joss Whedon have crossed paths. Back in 2007, Whedon was working on a Wonder Woman treatment for television, and Smulders was said to be his first choice to play the title role. That project obviously fell apart, Smulders returned to How I Met Your Mother, Whedon went on to create The Dollhouse, and JJ Abrams eventually ended up with the rights to Wonder Woman (which he has been commissioned to create a pilot for).
So now that Smulders seems locked in the role, the question is who will she play? Let the speculation begin!
