In the comics, the Avengers are actually a fairly gender-diverse bunch, with Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and The Wasp all aiding the more famous male cast. The upcoming film adaptation by Joss Whedon won't be as mixed, with Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow the only Avenger without a Y chromosome--but that doesn't mean that she'll be the only woman on board.
The Sunday Herald-Sun, via Movie Hole, grabbed a quote from Whedon, who said, "It is true that the movie is only going to have one female avenger, but she will not be the only female character." He also confirmed, as many comic fans have predicted, that the story will come from multiple story arcs in the comics, including both the original Avengers series and The Ultimates, a series by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch that brought the Avengers into the modern world.
Some female names can be eliminated immediately, including Natalie Portman, who said during Comic Con that Thor's Jane Foster won't be in the superhero ensemble movie, and Hayley Atwell, whose story arc in Captain America: The First Avenger occurs 70 years before the Avengers are assembled. One actress that hasn't been eliminated is Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts and has neither confirmed nor denied a role in the film. As for new characters, it's more than likely that high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. Maria Hill, will be cast, particularly if Samuel L. Jackson's claims about a stronger S.H.I.E.L.D. presence in the film are true. Those afraid of sexism in the superhero world fear not--The Avengers will have you covered.
