Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill Returning for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Season 2

Cobie Smulders appeared in two episodes of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Season 1, and it seems as though the former How I Met Your Mother star is coming back for Season 2 this fall.

Executive producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen and Jeffrey Bell spoke to E! Online and revealed they intend to bring back the character:

"Now that How I Met Your Mother is done, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will likely bring back Maria Hill. 'We have plans to bring her in and see her,' Jed Whedon told E! News, while Maurissa Tancharoen added, 'We love Cobie, we love the character. She's so great.' 'She fits really nicely on the show and has good chemistry with Coulson and the others,' executive producer Jeffrey Bell said."

Now that S.H.I.E.L.D. is gone, or rather, rebuilding, it's unclear what role Maria Hill would play in this universe. When we last saw the character at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, she was taking a civilian job at Stark Industries, presumably to stay close to The Avengers.

In related news, the "Ask Ausiello" column reports the Season 2 premiere will feature a time jump and also notes a theme for the season:

"S.H.I.E.L.D. producers are typically mum on details for Season 2, even when it comes to how much time will have passed since Coulson was appointed Director of TFOKAS (The Former Organization Known As S.H.I.E.L.D.). 'There is a jump,' EP Jed Whedon allows. 'It might be a little skip, it might be just a hop-skip-jump.... But yes, a little time has passed.' As for an overall theme for Season 2, EP Maurissa Tancharoen shares, 'There was a word that came up a lot towards the end of the season - evolution - and that is something we will be exploring.'"

What do you think Maria Hill's role would be on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Let us know in the comments below.