Cobie Smulders, best known for starring in How I Met Your Mother, has beaten off the likes of Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jessica Lucas to become the latest star of Joss Whedon’s new Avengers film. Smulders will line up alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans to name just a few of the stars signed on to this picture. Phew- the casting agents must have been very busy on this one.

Smulders is lined up to play Maria Hill, the sidekick of Nick Fury (Jackson) and a S.H.I.E.L.D agent, who becomes executive director after Fury goes into hiding after doing something really bad (to find out what you will have to watch the movie when it comes out). Apparently Maria Hill is an ace negotiator, awesome fighter and has a serious mean streak. Sounds like Joss Whedon could have used her help when sorting out salaries- as that lot of stars are going to be expensive…

This film should be hitting cinemas May next year.