Meet the Avengers

In Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, not one but six superheroes team up against a common enemy and, notwithstanding their super-strengths and egos, they each have their moment to shine.

Tempering the testosterone levels somewhat is Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow- Paula Fleri Soler

For those unfamiliar with who’s who, here’s an introduction to the characters, and some comments from the actors who play them, as quoted in the film’s press notes.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is the director of top-secret peacekeeping and intelligence agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. When he becomes aware of an evil plot that threatens global safety, Fury assembles the planet’s most powerful beings and forms The Avengers.

First on board is Tony Stark a.k.a Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr). The billionaire playboy spends his time defeating enemies the world over, and reluctantly joins Fury and the Avengers as a consultant.

Says the actor of his character: “Tony Stark is open to all possibilities and has no problem accepting extraordinary happenings. He realised a while ago that he’s not an island and this time around he is beginning to understand that it’s about a group mindset and that ‘we’ is better than ‘I’”.

Awakening in modern-day New York after serving his country during World War II, super soldier Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) – Captain America – learns that he had spent decades frozen in the icy tundra. Despite struggling to fit into a world he does not recognise, Rogers once more takes up his iconic shield to join the Avengers.

“Big parts of Steve Rogers are his good nature, high morals and strong values, created in a time when people treated each other differently,” says Evans. “A lot of the things that he believed in, stood for and loved have changed. They’re not gone—they’re just different. ”

Banished to earth after his irresponsible behaviour threatened his homeland of Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returned home a new man, finally redeemed in the eyes of his father. He must now return to earth to prevent a cosmic-level catastrophe.

Armed with his legendary and powerful hammer Mjolnir, he joins the Avengers in their cause against his wayward brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who returns with a nefarious plot to conquer earth.

“The bigger conflict for him is that he’s trying to protect the greater good, but he has some deep questions about what is going on with his brother,” says Hemsworth.

Mark Ruffalo steps into the big, green, shoes previously worn by Eric Bana and Edward Norton as Hulk, the raging alter-ego of mild-mannered scientist Dr Bruce Banner.

His expertise is required by Nick Fury and the team, despite his unpredictability. Says Ruffalo of the character, “His rage feels real; his reactions to things feel human.”

Clint Barton aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most elite agents. Armed with his weapon of choice, the re-curve bow, he employs his amazing combat skills to fight alongside The Avengers. He is described by Renner as “a lone wolf sort of character, so he’s not a team player, but will be there if needed.”

Tempering the testosterone levels somewhat is Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff. She is one of the world’s greatest spies and its most skilled assassin. Her unique talents make her one of director Fury’s top agents and an integral part in assembling The Avengers.

“Black Widow is all business. She’s sort of in a grey area. In a sense she’s been fighting the good fight, despite her dark background. But she’s committed because she has to be and her moral ground is more dutiful,” says Johansson.