I had a feeling this was coming, I could feel it in the back of my head when I was writing the story on Sam Jackson revealing that he’d have a female sidekick in the Avengers movie. Lo-and-behold, look what showed up.
Heat Vision on THR is claiming to have an exclusive on the short list of actresses that will apparently be reading for the role of Nick Fury’s sidekick in the upcoming Avengers film. The actress the studio decides to go with will sign a nine picture deal – same as Jackson’s – and will fill the shoes of the unnamed Marvel character who will serve as his right-hand lady. Here’s the list from THR:
- [Morena] Baccarin, repped by ICM and Seven Summits, may have an edge since the actress did star in Whedon’s short-lived sci-fi TV series Firefly and its subsequent film spinoff, Serenity.
- [Jessica] Lucas, repped by Gersh and Thruline Entertainment, was one of the stars of Melrose Place, appears in TV’s Friends With Benefits and has a role in Big Momma’s House 3.
- [Cobie] Smulders, repped by UTA and Roar, is best known for her work in CBS’ How I Met Your Mother.
- [Mary Elizabeth] Winstead, who played Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, next stars in Universal’s The Thing, the remake of the 1982 John Carpenter horror movie. She is repped by CAA.
Of course, if this list is accurate, Baccarin may have the inside track since she has previously worked with Whedon, and let’s face it, the guy is known for sticking by his favorite FireFly cast members.
Honestly, I’m always a bit hesitant about these purported actor/actress “short-lists” for these roles because it seems like any time one of these are released a week later an actor is announced for the role that was never even on the list. So, while I have no doubt that these names may be being thrown around for the role, take this list lightly!