Maria Hill is the second-in-charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. played by Cobie Smulders in The Avengers. Hill is a strong, determined character who is often at odds with Fury. Some of the bonus scenes on the Avengers Blu-Ray explore this conflict. In the comics, and in the Avengers animated series, Hill does become director and establishes new policies to end S.H.I.E.L.D.s support of super-powered heroes. In the comics, Hill's mother died giving birth to her. Her father resented her for living when her mother died. Hill joined the U.S. Armed Forces before becoming a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. The tension and power struggle with Fury, and maybe even a change in leadership and policy, would create some very interesting material for the series. It would also be interesting to explore more of Hill's history and motivations.