Marvel’s Joe Quesada once called Maria Hill as “strong and imposing” as Nick Fury. Anyone who’s read much of her character knows just how true that is – she’s a vicious, strong-willed woman that ends up running SHIELD as interim Executive Director. That’s the role several actresses were vying for, and it appears that Cobie Smulders (from How I Met Your Mother, Slammin’ Salmon) might be stretching her dramatic chops for the role. According to Deadline Santa Monica, the deal to hire Smulders for The Avengers is nearly done. She was also apparently a top choice for director Joss Whedon when he was looking to do Wonder Woman. This is an interesting call, but it’s definitely not a bad one. Smulders has had to show more than comedy for How I Met Your Mother – a show that continues to toss in emotional roadblocks alongside its Slapsgiving celebrations. She’s a great, new talent, but it’ll be a real test to see how she marks up in stature next to Samuel L. Jackson. That would be the true crucible for any actress taking on the part. Morena Baccarin from V might have been a more obvious choice as a stoic bad ass with a pixie cut, so it’ll be interesting to find out what the casting team saw from Smulders that made them choose her instead.