Cobie Smulders on Maria Hill’s Fate – The Hollywood Reporter

[This story contains spoilers for Secret Invasion’s series premiere, “Resurrection.”]

As Marvel Studios ventured into television through Disney+, the expectation was that they would be able to dig deeper into many of their characters, which they can only do so much in a two-hour series. Unfortunately, for secret invasion Cobie Smulders star, her fan-favorite Maria Hill character will not be the subject of such treatment, as the former SHIELD agent met her end in the series premiere due to Directed by Ali Selim, “Resurrection”.

Consider her 2011 role in Detachment of revenge (2012) leading up to five films and three other series, Smulders is striding away from the MCU. (Her Saturday movie is supposed to come out in November marvelous.)

“This is a great run. What a dream job,” said Smulders hollywood reporter. “On paper, the credits are great, but… every piece of work I do has been an absolute success with amazing people. So I really don’t have anything to complain about.”

Smulders is quite surprised that her character’s death hasn’t been leaked as it was filmed at The Piece Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire with so many background artists and viewers involved.

“There were a lot of people around, so I was surprised that no pictures were leaked. I guess that’s the respect Marvel has won over the last decade, like, ‘Don’t spoil it for people.’ And luckily, no one did,” Smulders said.

What makes seeing Hill off even more strange is that it was Samuel L. Jackson who pulled the trigger as the fake Fury. Kingsley Ben-Adir’s villain, Gravik, transforms into Fury’s form, creating a disturbing dynamic that is in stark contrast to what Fury has had with Hill throughout the MCU. Luckily, Nick Fury actually arrived at just the right time for the Smulders and Jackson to have an emotional final moment.

“It’s weird and a bit dark, isn’t it? It was a rather strange day, because after that very violent moment was a very emotional moment that Sam and I had to share,” recalls Smulders. “So I focused more on that last moment than the darkness when he actually did it [as Skrull imposter Fury].”

Below, in a recent spoiler conversation with CHEAPSmulders also addresses whether the door is still open for the return of the multiverse one day.

Well, normally I would say congratulations, but today was a very sad one.

(laugh.) We can still say congratulations. This is a great activity. It’s a dream job. I am proud and delighted that I have had the opportunity to play Maria Hill for the past ten years in films and television as well as in animated form.

I talked to you for Spider-Man: Far From Homeand shortly before it premiered, they covered your eyes with Revelation that you accidentally played Skrull [Talos’ wife Soren]. And now this happens. So you have reason to be disappointed, but as you said, it’s hard to complain when the 2011 casting lead resulted in six movies and three more feature-length films.

Yes, the credits are great on paper, but in every project, I also get to meet and work with the most talented creators. And I’m not just talking about the stars. I’m talking about our team, our writers, our directors, and everyone who’s worked on all of these Marvel movies over the years and years. Every product I’ve made has been an absolute blast to amazing people. So I really don’t have anything to complain about.

During that same conversation, I asked you a terrible question about whether you’ve prepared yourself for the possibility that you could play Maria Hill for the rest of your life. So I’m really sorry for jinxed all this.

(laugh.) It’s OK! It’s been a long way indeed, and I’m just grateful for the time that I’ve had.

So how was this gut punch news first delivered to you?

You mean gut shot!? (laugh.)

Touche.

I was told immediately. I was told immediately when [Marvel Studios Co-President] Lou D’Esposito called me to chat about just joining [on Secret Invasion], and so I’ve known about it for years, which is really funny. Great to finally have it. I’m surprised I didn’t let her slip, so I’ve known for a while.

The film’s villain, Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), transforms into Nick Fury, which means that it’s Sam who must carry out the act of assassinating Maria. Isn’t that dynamic pretty weird on the day of the on-screen relationship you’ve had with each other?

Correct! I haven’t thought about it since I saw it, but you’re reminding me that it’s a bit weird. Maybe it’s weirder for Sam; you have to ask him. But, yeah, it’s weird and a bit dark, isn’t it? It was a rather strange day, because after that very violent moment came a very emotional moment that Sam and I had to share. It was the regret, anxiety and pain at the ongoing loss, plus the violence, that it ended in a more emotional way. So I focused more on that last moment than his shadow actually doing it [as Skrull imposter Fury].

Can they arrange the final death scene? Or did you go on to shoot some scenes before she died?

It’s towards the end. I can’t remember if that was the real ending, but we worked on that entire sequence in that one location. It was filmed in this town square in north London [The Piece Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England]. So we went through the sequence of events as they went with explosions, runs and chases, and then we ended up with that. There were a lot of people around, so again, I’m surprised no images leaked. I guess it’s the respect that Marvel has earned over the last decade, like, “Don’t spoil it for people.” And no one did, fortunately.

Was there any pomp and circumstance when you finished? Maybe there was a Skrull cake?

(laugh.) Yes, there are gifts given and some notes and cards. Have a bottle of champagne, drink it immediately. So there have been — and since — many good words and moments.

Luckily, no one has ever actually gone into the multiverse, so are they giving you any indication that Maria might be on the way again, somehow, somehow? Do they leave the door open?

It’s kind of for them to decide. I will always answer the call, but I don’t know what they have planned for future products. But I guess anything is possible in the multiverse.

Earlier in the episode, I liked how you accepted Fury’s offer of a snack. You say, “Okay, okay” resignedly and wearily.

(laugh.) Yeah, I feel like that sums up the entire episode. Maria has been alone in this battle for too long and Fury, especially when it comes to the Skrulls, will take the lead. So she has to be with her a lot of time, especially now that he’s back. In that moment, she said, “Okay, fine. Just do this.” (laugh.)

Decades from now, when your loved ones ask you about your time playing Maria Hill, what would you probably tell them about your first day in a Marvel project?

There are big scenes that we filmed in season one and part two Avengers, and we would all just chat while sitting around the table or standing on the train. In the first place, I was really scared to go to these big scenes, but it was a miracle that I was there for days shooting these scenes and watching these performances. I also have to watch the production and see how it translates to the screen with the added CGI and whatever else. I’ve never been part of something like that before, where a movie combines art with actual production and performances like the first films. So it’s great to see the mix of things these artists have created.

I remember going to the first one and having the artist redraw my character and her outfit, and it was beautifully thought out and executed. So that will always be a great takeaway. It will also be fan support. It’s been ten years and it’s been amazing to be a part of something that is so loved and gets everyone so excited. They’re so emotionally attached to these characters and this world, so it’s great to be a small part of that.

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secret invasion currently airing every Wednesday on Disney+. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.