'The Avengers' releases new teaser pictures

New teaser pictures from Joss Whedon's blockbuster The Avengers have debuted.

The images, released by Marvel, show the comic book ensemble's members Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson), Captain America (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Tony Star (Robert Downey Jr) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in scenes from the superhero epic.

Thor's Tom Hiddleston, who returns as villain Loki in The Avengers, recently told Digital Spy that his character will be "fully self-possessed in his mischief-making" and "a lot more menacing" in the movie.

The Avengers will open in UK cinemas on April 27 and May 4 in the US.

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View new pictures from The Avengers below: