‘Captain America The Winter Soldier’ Cast – Maria Hill To Play Central Role; Events In Movie Take Place Before ‘Iron Man 3’

The Marvel timeline is not exactly streamlined as ours. Thus, the events from "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" takes place immediately after the events from last year's "The Avengers" (it's actual title is "Avengers Assemble").

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the product of numerous writers, producers and directors, and reality can play a part on the timeline. They don't feel constrained to arrange the events in exact chronological order. However, they have organized them into "phases."

The big question was raised-why didn't S.H.I.E.L.D. come to the aid of Tony Stark when he was attacked in Iron Man 3? They were already allies after the "Battle of New York." It was previously clarified that the events in Iron Man 3 happened 6 months after they vanquished the alien horde. "Captain America the Winter Soldier" happens imediately after that. Thus, even though it will be released almost a full year after "Iron Man 3" it actually happened sooner. SHIELD's direct involvement may have left it unable to aid Tony Stark. What happened? Was SHIELD dissolved?

The extent of the damage must be extensive for them to be rendered incapable of helping Iron Man against an international terrorist.

Speaking of SHIELD, most viewers expect them to be at the backdrop of every Marvel movie. Not so with "Thor: The Dark World" as it was set in Asgard most of the time. For Captain America though, the international intrigue is right up SHIELD's alley.

Deputy Director of SHIELD Maria Hill, played by Cobie Smulders of "How I Met Your Mother" fame, has a substantial role in the film despite the fact that she does not appear in the first trailer.

Cobie Smulders shares in an interview with I Am Rogue:

"IAR: The new trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released last week but Maria Hill was not in much of it. 

Cobie Smulders: I did see (the trailer) and my husband pointed out that you do see my back at one point. So I'm there. 

Can we expect your character to appear in a lot of the movie?

Smulders: Yeah. I'm around. You know it's all about S.H.I.E.L.D. and Maria Hill is very much involved. 

Do You have any scenes with Robert Redford?

Smulders: No.

Did you get to meet him?

Smulders: No, but that is what the press days are for. I'm going to hunt him down. 

Do you have any plans to return to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before this season is over?

Smulders: We'll see. I mean nothing is on the books right now. I just did the one pilot but we'll see. It was a lot of fun. It was great being with Clark (Gregg) again, and of course with Joss (Whedon) again. But they have such a great cast and they've really found their momentum. So I'll maybe come in and play for a day or too but we'll see."