Following months of hints, talks and speculation, it's now official: Cobie Smulders is reprising her role as Maria Hill in "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." The "How I Met Your Mother" star has a cameo in the pilot episode, which was screened this afternoon at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

"I wanted very much to have Cobie in the pilot because as much as anyone else, she is S.H.I.E.L.D.," series co-creator Joss Whedon said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "She's cool and commanding, and has the dry humor that plays so well with Clark's. Also, if she's in it I get to hang out with Cobie."

Smulders, who had a role in "The Avengers 2" and will appear in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," revealed in late January that there had been "definite talks" for her to appear in the ABC series, but the production schedule of "How I Met Your Mother" was proving an obstacle. Whedon later said the actresses' commitments "will permit very little" involvement, "but if we can get a hold of her any time, we will."

And clearly they did. However, Smulders' appearance on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." may not be merely a one-time deal. According to Entertainment Weekly, she's expected to appear "occasionally" on the show. But with "HIMYM" entering its final season, her schedule could free up for Season 2 "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Gemma Simmons, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz and Chloe Bennet as Skye. The series premieres Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.