UPDATE: Cobie Smulders herself has confirmed that this is happening.
With the regrettable demise of the wry Agent Coulson in The Avengers, newly introduced S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill—and by extension actress Cobie Smulders—is poised to play a major role in Marvel's future productions. But superhero adventures aren't all the How I Met Your Mother star has on tap. She recently wrapped production on the Lasse Hallström adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel Safe Haven as well as David Wain's next comedy They Came Together, and now she's got her eye on a more mainstream comedy.
Variety reports Smulders has entered into talks to take on the female lead opposite Vince Vaughn in the remake of the French-Canadian comedy Starbuck. Vaughn will front the presently untitled film as a middle-aged manchild who is thrown for a loop when his past comes back to haunt him. See, as a cash-strapped but very virile young man, this schlubby anti-hero would head to the local sperm bank to make a deposit and thereby withdrawal some quick cash. However, as a frequent donor, he has proved a prolific father, spawning 533 progeny, a few hundred of whom have filed a class action lawsuit to meet the man known on the donation form as "Starbuck." (Note: this was his codename in the original, but as it brings to mind a certain popular coffee shop brand it's highly unlikely that detail will withstand translation.)
Should she sign on, Smulders will play Vaughn's girlfriend who is pregnant, unaware of his hoards of children, and fearful that he's not ready to be a father. As I haven't seen the original Starbuck it's hard for me to say if this will be more than a thankless nagging girlfriend role, but Smulders certainly deserves better than that, so let's hope for the best.
DreamWorks has contracted the original film's writer-director Ken Scott to adapt and direct the remake for American audiences. Parks and Recreations' Chris Pratt has already committed to play Vaughn's lawyer—and likely confidante—and with production expected to begin later this year, casting news on who will play Vaughn's big brood should emerge soon.
