Maria Hill (born on April 4, 1982) was the deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D..
Following the destruction of S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria was employed by Stark Industries as part of Tony Stark's campaign to privatize global security and later left to join Nick Fury's crew.
Biography[]
The Avengers[]
The high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill was present at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Project: P.E.G.A.S.U.S. research facility when power spikes from the Tesseract, deep within the facility, prompted an evacuation, but became puzzled by Clint Barton emerging from the site with a stranger she didn't know. Radioed warnings to stop Barton had her diving for cover when he overheard and opened fire. This prompted a gun fight and a chase, but she proved unable to stop Barton from making his escape.
Following the Project Pegasus incident, Hill took up her post on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, carrying out executive officer duties on the bridge. It was here that she was thrown into combat once again when Barton, under hypnotic control, lead a daring commando assault on the carrier. She narrowly escaped serious injury when a live grenade detonating near her heralded the attackers reaching the bridge, and opened fire on the attackers in reply. After surviving the bridge attack, Hill proceeded to help coordinate further operations on the carrier, but there was little more that she could do with a crippled ship. She informed Nick Fury that a pilot went rogue and was going to bomb New York City. She last appeared on the Helicarrier with Nick Fury, agreeing that the Avengers would come back when they need to.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[]
"Pilot"[]
- "The Battle of New York was the end of the world, this is the new world."
- ―Maria Hill[src]
Sometime after the Battle of New York, Maria Hill brought Agent Grant Ward to one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret bases. She talked with Ward about the presence of beings with supernatural powers, including the Hulk, Captain America, and Thor before Agent Coulson walked in. During a conversation with a one of S.H.I.E.L.D. doctors, she told him that Coulson must never know the truth about his survival.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier[]
After Nick Fury was attacked by the Winter Soldier, Hill encountered agents Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff at the hospital where the medics failed to revive Fury. After Natasha mourned Fury's death, Maria carried away the body. When Steve, Natasha and their ally Sam Wilson were captured by Strike agents who were working for HYDRA, Hill disguised herself as one of the guards of the van which transported them, and rescued the three heroes.
Maria then took Rogers, Romanoff and Wilson to a secret location where the survival of Nick Fury was revealed to them. After being critically injured by the Winter Soldier following the discovery that S.H.I.E.L.D. had been infiltrated by HYDRA, Fury had successfully faked his death by using a drug which greatly reduced his pulse, as it was easier for him to operate under the radar, as he could no longer be targeted if he was allegedly dead. Fury and Maria revealed Steve a way to thwart HYDRA's plan to use S.H.I.E.L.D.'s three new heavily-armored Insight helicarriers to impose their new world order, which involved replacing one chip in each one of the helicarriers to allow their systems to be overridden.
Rogers and Wilson then infiltrated the Triskelion in order to access the Insight helicarriers. Following the replacement of the chips, Hill was allowed to override the helicarriers' systems and reprogram them to destroy each other. With S.H.I.E.L.D. in ruins and the secrets of both HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. were unleashed to the world by Romanoff, Hill applied for a job at Stark Industries.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[]
"Nothing Personal"[]
- "S.H.I.E.L.D. implodes, and everyone wants answers. The CIA, NSA, NRO, them I can handle. But Congress? Congress is like kindergarten. "Where is this Fridge?" "What was in there?" "Who or what is a man-thing?" I swear I need a cocktail and a lobotomy."
- ―Maria Hill[src]
One night in Washington, D.C., while complaining to Pepper Potts about the senate hearings. Maria was approached by Agent Melinda May, who informed her that Coulson and his team had taken refuge at Providence base before asking about the truth behind Project T.A.H.I.T.I., the program that revived Coulson from the dead, and who was behind it, suspecting it to be Alexander Pierce. Maria explained to her that Nick Fury covered up the identity of the project director when he decided not to bury Coulson. May then fled as Maria was apprehended by the FBI.
Maria later led Colonel Glenn Talbot to Providence, where she attempted to convince Coulson to try to make a deal with the government. But upon being informed that his team member Grant Ward was a HYDRA double agent and was holding Skye captive, she helped Coulson and his team escape Talbot. They tracked down Ward on the stolen Bus, keeping Ward distracted while Coulson infiltrated the plane to rescue Skye. After safely hiding at a motel, Maria reminded Coulson that once he was done with Garrett, was done being an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and his team must go their separate ways. However, Coulson didn't believe it to be fair for his team to either cut a deal with the government or work in the corporate sector. Before leaving, she reminded Coulson that he could always get a job at Stark Industries. Coulson was about to ask that she pass along his regards to Stark, but a glance from Hill reminded him that Stark still thought he was dead.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[]
The Dirty Half Dozen[]
Coulson's team's successful rescue mission from HYDRA's Arctic base, Coulson called Hill to confirm that despite difficulties from Robert Gonzales, he had achieved his secret secondary objective, which was obtaining the location of the Chitauri Scepter the weapon that killed him. He then told Hill to implement the Theta Protocol by sending in The Avengers after the sceptre.
Avengers: Operation HYDRA[]
To be added
Avengers: Age of Ultron[]
After the Avengers had successfully captured Strucker, along with the Scepter, Hill greeted them when they had arrived back at Avengers Tower. Later, Hill was invited to celebrate at a party in Avengers Tower and drank with Thor, Tony Stark, and James Rhodes. Later at the party, Ultron crashed into the tower and attacked the Avengers before Ultron's body was destroyed by Thor.
In the aftermath of the skirmish, Hill and the rest of the team were forced to make a plan to deal with the new threat. As the hunt for Ultron continued, she spoke with Steve Rogers of a further sighting of Ultron and his Ultron Sentries. Hill confirmed that several people had been killed and that Ultron was being helped by the Maximoff twins and had assassinated Strucker.
After the Duel in Johannesburg, between Iron Man and the Hulk, Hill called Clint Barton while he piloted the Quinjet to his home, where the Avengers would temporarily stay. Barton assured Hill that he knew where they would go where they could rest and be greeted by Nick Fury.
Hill was later requested by Nick Fury to join him for planning support for the Avengers' battle against Ultron. Fury and Hill recruited former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, including Cameron Klein and took an old Helicarrier, which was repaired by Phil Coulson. When they arrived in Sokovia, they found the Avengers engaged in a massive battle against the seemingly unstoppable army of Ultron Sentries. Hill then sent out the Lifeboats to save the civilians while she sent War Machine into battle. During the battle, one of the Sentries attacked the Helicarrier, but Hill and Fury fought back, with Hill firing her weapon at the attacking robot until they destroyed it before it did more harm to the ship or their crewmembers. Eventually, the battle was won and Ultron was destroyed forever by the Vision.
In the aftermath of the war against Ultron, Hill was transferred to the New Avengers Facility, where she began working alongside Helen Cho inside her brand new laboratory.
Captain Marvel Prelude[]
To be added
Avengers: Infinity War[]
Maria Hill was in a car with Nick Fury when another car crashed. Hill got out of the car to see if the driver was alright but there wasn't anyone behind the wheel. She turned to look at Fury but then disintegrated into dust.
Avengers: Endgame[]
Having been revived along with Nick Fury by the Hulk using the Infinity Stones, Hill attended Tony Stark's funeral.
Spider-Man: Far From Home[]
After getting in contact with the Skrulls, Nick Fury asked Talos and Soren to impersonate him and Hill and replace them both on Earth for some time.
Secret Invasion[]
To be added
Character traits[]
Maria operates by an almost by-the-book mentality, which results at times in her questioning some of the choices that Fury makes, particularly involving the Avengers. However, she does respect and trust most of the decisions he makes such as when the World Security Council thought that it was best to destroy New York with a tactical nuclear missile, even she showed concern about it and didn't approve of it.
Powers and Abilities[]
Abilities[]
- Master Leader: Maria has proven herself to be a very capable leader and led S.H.I.E.L.D. in their operations for years.
- Master Tactician: Maria is a highly skilled tactician.
- Expert Hand-To-Hand Combatant/Martial Artist: Through training with S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist. Her combat style is comprised of boxing, shotokan karate, krav maga and combat shooting. Maria was able to take down several HYDRA agents with relative ease.
- Expert Markswoman: Through her training from S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria is a highly skilled markswoman. She was able to shoot down and kill several brainwashed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents with a pistol before they could fire a shot.
- Expert of Stealth/Infiltration: Maria is highly skilled in the art of espionage, intelligence gathering, stealth and infiltration. She was able to infiltrate the HYDRA truck in order to rescue Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers. After the Fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria stayed off the grid for four years without being tracked.
Relationships[]
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Nick Fury - Superior and friend.
- Phil Coulson - Ally and friend; deceased.
- Clint Barton/Hawkeye - Ally.
- Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow - Ally; deceased.
- Dr. Streiten - Ally.
- Melinda May - Ally.
- Antoine Triplett - Ally; deceased.
- Skye - Ally.
- Avengers - Allies.
- Steve Rogers/Captain America - Ally; retired.
- Tony Stark/Iron Man - Ally; deceased.
- Bruce Banner/Hulk - Ally and resurrector.
- Thor Odinson - Ally.
- James Rhodes/War Machine - Ally.
- Sam Wilson/Falcon - Ally.
- Pepper Potts - Ally.
- Thaddeus Ross - Ally.
- Glenn Talbot - Ally turned enemy.
- Loki Laufeyson - Enemy; deceased.
- Chitauri - Enemies.
- HYDRA - Enemies.
- Alexander Pierce - Superior turned enemy; deceased.
- James Barnes/Winter Soldier - Unwilling enemy.
- Brock Rumlow - Enemy; deceased.
- Grant Ward - Ally turned enemy; deceased.
- John Garrett - Subordinate turned enemy; deceased.
- Ultron - Enemy; destroyed.
- Ultron Sentries - Enemies; destroyed.
- Soren - Impersonator; deceased.
- Talos - Ally; deceased.
- Everett Ross - Ally.
- Gravik - Killer.
Appearances/Actresses[]
- Marvel Cinematic Universe (6 films)
- The Avengers (First appearance) - Cobie Smulders
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Cobie Smulders
- Avengers: Age of Ultron - Cobie Smulders
- Avengers: Infinity War - Cobie Smulders
- Avengers: Endgame - Cobie Smulders
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (Mentioned and impersonated by Soren)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe (2 Series)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Cobie Smulders
- Season 1
- "Pilot"
- "Providence" (Mentioned only)
- "The Only Light in the Darkness" (Mentioned only)
- "Nothing Personal"
- Season 2
- "Melinda" (Name only)
- "The Dirty Half Dozen"
- Season 1
- Secret Invasion - Cobie Smulders
- "Resurrection"
- "Promises"
- "Beloved" (Footage)
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Cobie Smulders
- Marvel Cinematic Universe (2 comics)
Behind the scenes[]
- Before Cobie Smulders was cast as Agent Hill, Morena Baccarin, Jessica Lucas and Mary Elizabeth Winstead screen tested for the part.
- Smulders cut her hair Bob Short for The Avengers.
- Smulders was going to work with Joss Whedon in Wonder Woman as the title character.
Trivia[]
- In the comics, Maria Hill served as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. before Tony Stark took over. This was due to Nick Fury having to go into hiding for illegally sending in a team of superheroes (consisting of Spider-Man, Daredevil, Wolverine, Captain America, Luke Cage and Black Widow) on an unapproved mission in Latveria during Marvel's Secret War Storyline.
- In the comics, Maria was also notably the head of the main Avengers team until Steve Rogers took command following his return to the role of Captain America.