Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Morena Baccarin & More Shortlisted For Nick Fury Sidekick In 'The Avengers'

Well, that was fast. Last night Samuel L. Jackson hit “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and confirmed that Nick Fury would be in both “Captain America: The First Avenger” and “Thor.” He also dropped the bomb that tomorrow, he was going to be screentesting with actresses for some kind of companion role in the upcoming “The Avengers” telling Fallon, “I gotta screen test like five actresses on Friday. They have this new character that’s my sidekick or something, that’s with me all the time.”

THR is on the ball, reporting that Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World“), “V” star Morena Baccarin (who also starred in Joss Whedon‘s “Firefly” and the film “Serenity“), Jessica Lucas (“Cloverfield“) and Cobie Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother“) are doing tests to play the part opposite Nick Fury as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. The character never really had a sidekick just who or what the character will be is something a mystery. Could it actually be the long rumored Wasp/Janet Van Dyne? Marvel aren’t commenting. The actress who lands the part will be signed to Marvel’s now trademark and ludicrous nine-picture deal and to cover their bases, the test deals will find Marvel placing a 30-day hold on the thesps who get in front of the camera tomorrow.

Things are moving as the film heads toward an April production start with a release set for May 4, 2012. Check out Sam Jackson and Fallon gabbing below.