The superhero team-up of a lifetime

MANILA, Philippines - Marvel Studios has just revealed the official character descriptions of

The Avengers

— the superhero team-up of a lifetime, composed of iconic

Marvel

superheroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow.

Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series of the same title first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

After a top secret Super-Soldier program transformed frail Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) into the powerful and heroic Captain America, his amazing WWII exploits made him a living legend. Steve saved New York City and turned the tide of the war, but crashed into the Arctic during his final mission. Awakening in the modern day, Steve learned that he had spent decades frozen in the icy tundra. Now, Steve finds himself alone in a modern world that he hardly recognizes. When Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D., calls on Steve to help save the world again, he quickly suits up as Captain America, taking up his iconic shield and bringing his strength, leadership and no-nonsense attitude to The Avengers.

On top of being an eccentric genius, a billionaire, a playboy and a philanthropist, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is also the armored superhero known as Iron Man. Fresh off of defeating enemies the world over, Tony reluctantly agreed to serve as a consultant to S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, with a global crisis on the horizon and the fate of the world in the balance, Tony must again power up his Iron Man armor to save the world, and become a full-fledged member of The Avengers.

An arrogant prince from the distant land of Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) was banished to Earth after his irresponsible behavior threatened his homeland. While on exile on Earth, Thor learned humility and helped to save his new friends from a destructive threat sent by his brother Loki. In the process, Thor redeemed himself in the eyes of his father, Odin, the King of Asgard. After being welcomed back to Asgard as a hero, Thor must now return to Earth once again to prevent a cosmic-level catastrophe. With Mjolnir in his hand, a legendary hammer with immense power, the mighty warrior soon finds himself drawn into an unlikely alliance with The Avengers, lending his power to their cause against his wayward brother, Loki.

After a gamma radiation experiment went awry, mild-mannered scientist Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) found himself with a peculiar condition. When angered or provoked, he would transform into the uncontrollable, green-skinned monster known as the Hulk. Now, fearful of the damage that the Hulk could inflict, Dr. Banner chooses to live a discreet life in remote parts of the world, working to cure the sick and help the poor while trying to elude those who would take advantage of his ability to change into the enormous, green menace. When a mounting threat calls for Banner’s specialized scientific expertise, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury recruits him, knowing full well that the incredible strength of Banner’s alter ego, the Hulk, would be an asset to The Avengers.

One of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most elite agents, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), code-named Hawkeye, is the greatest living marksman on Earth. Armed with his weapon of choice, the recurve bow, Hawkeye fires his arsenal of custom augmented arrows, specialized for any number of specific situations, with perfect precision. With the potential for global catastrophe on the horizon, he employs his amazing combat skills to fight alongside The Avengers.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), is one of the world’s greatest spies and quite possibly the world’s most skilled assassin. Armed with an extensive arsenal of specialized weapons like widow stings and cluster bombs, as well as a vast repertoire of martial arts skills, Natasha’s unique talents make her one of director Fury’s top agents and an integral part in assembling The Avengers.

After his bid to overthrow the throne of Asgard was thwarted by his brother Thor, the evil Loki (Tom Hiddleston) retreated to lands unknown to plot his revenge. Not just against his brother, but against Earth, whose inhabitants Thor now protects. Loki, now returns with a nefarious plot to conquer Earth and will stop at nothing to see his vision realized. When his misuse of power threatens the entire planet, it may take more than The Avengers to stop him.

As the legendary director of the international peacekeeping organization, S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury is humanity’s first line of defense against the world’s biggest threats. When S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes aware of an evil that threatens global safety, Nick assembles the planet’s most powerful beings and forms The Avengers.

Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when Marvel’s The Avengers comes to the Philippines on April 25. The movie is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.