The Unbelievable Return: Unlocking the Mystery Behind [SPOILER]'s Marvelous Comeback!

Spoilers lie ahead for Secret Invasion.

According to reports, Cobie Smulders, known for her portrayal of Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be making a comeback in The Marvels, albeit in a smaller capacity. Despite the tendency to suspend disbelief when navigating the intricate web of Marvel storylines, it appeared that Hill's demise was confirmed at the conclusion of the first episode of Secret Invasion, further solidified by the opening sequences of its second episode.

The shooting of Maria Hill in the previous episode of Secret Invasion proved to be fatal, serving as a catalyst for Nick Fury to take stronger action against the looming threat. Although Smulders believed her character's death was final, she expressed her willingness to return if Marvel called upon her in the future. Aside from upcoming animated appearances in Disney's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Smulders will also be featured in her seventh MCU film, The Marvels, set to release later this year.

Who is Maria Hill?

Agent Maria Hill has been a prominent figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since her introduction in The Avengers. Viewers have come to rely on her presence during pivotal events that shape the universe. Initially serving as Nick Fury's trusted second in command at SHIELD, Hill has always been dedicated to upholding justice. While she first appeared when SHIELD's involvement was essential and funds were limited for Samuel L. Jackson's character, Hill gradually established herself through individual appearances. She frequently partnered with Fury, earning his trust and becoming part of his inner circle. Hill embodies strength, capability, and unwavering determination to challenge authority in order to do what is morally right.

Have dead characters been brought back in the MCU?

She played a vital role in shaping the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and dealing with the aftermath in a world without SHIELD. From there, she continued to be a valuable support in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Fans eagerly anticipated her prominent role in Secret Invasion, a chance for this long-standing character to finally receive the development she deserved. However, their hopes were shattered when she met an untimely demise in the very first episode, a cruel fate known as "fridging."

Although comic book characters are often revived from death, the demise of Maria Hill (known as her fridging) in Secret Invasion gives the impression that it should have more lasting consequences. Nevertheless, the Marvel Cinematic Universe follows suit with its comic book counterparts by resurrecting deceased characters in its productions. Whether these characters are revived for the sake of shock value, retcon motives, or to pave the way for new projects, the MCU regularly brings back fallen heroes and villains.

Agent Phil Coulson, who died in The Avengers, was resurrected through the TAHITI project before Agents of SHIELD. His death served as a catalyst for the heroes in the first Avengers movie, but Fury's efforts to bring him back displayed a deeper sense of humanity in Coulson. Although Coulson returned to lead the MCU flagship TV show, this decision led to the introduction of beloved characters that fans are eagerly awaiting to see again after a decade.

In a similar vein, Gamora's demise in Infinity War, referred to as "fridging" in recent MCU canon, was reversed in the subsequent movie thanks to time-travel. Vision, five years after his death, was revived through a memory-implanted robot clone in WandaVision. Despite Loki's multiple deaths and resurrections, he managed a partial resurgence following his neck being snapped by Thanos in the opening of Infinity War, as he escaped with the 2012 Tesseract in Endgame, paving the way for his own Disney+ show centered around time-travel. While the MCU generally handles main character deaths more steadfastly than Marvel Comics, they are not entirely immune to the ephemeral nature of comic book deaths.

Could Maria Hill be resurrected in Secret Invasion?

Cobie Smulders has conducted numerous interviews regarding the emotional and realistic portrayal of Maria Hill's death in Secret Invasion. This begs the question of the show's placement within the MCU timeline. The first episode of the show cleverly plays with the idea of a "comic book death" by hinting at the possibility of Maria's demise. The episode concludes with a lingering shot of what appears to be her lifeless body in a town square, having been shot by a Skrull impersonating Fury. The following episode begins with the same shot, but then reveals Maria's casket and her modest military funeral on an airship. It is during a heart-wrenching scene with Maria's grieving mother that the truth is confirmed: Maria Hill was not killed off, but rather her death was a plot device known as "fridging."

At this early stage, it is uncertain if she will return in the anticipated shocking conclusion of Secret Invasion. However, considering Smulders' confirmed appearance in The Marvels and Secret Invasion's status as a Spy Thriller, fans of Maria Hill remain hopeful that her apparent demise was a crucial aspect of Fury's master plan, rather than a permanent loss. It is highly likely that Maria Hill will continue to be an essential and understated character for as long as Cobie Smulders wishes to reprise her role.