The stars of Marvel’s Avengers have re-assembled in London for the comic book franchise’s latest big-screen outing.

Thousands of fans – many dressed as their favourite characters – waited for hours to see Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans at the UK premiere of Avengers: Age Of Ultron at Westfield shopping centre in west London.

Chris Evans
Chris Evans, who plays Steve Rogers/Captain America in the film (Ian West/PA)
Robert Downey Jr
Robert Downey Jr joined his co-stars in London (Ian West/PA)

British actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Paul Bettany also attended the event alongside the film’s director Joss Whedon. Taylor-Johnson, 24, was accompanied by his wife Sam.

Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Joel Ryan/Invision)
Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany, who plays the Vision (Joel Ryan/Invision)

“This is pretty bananas. I’m glad that these films are so popular and people like it (the franchise),” Downey Jr, who returns to play Tony Stark and Iron Man, said on the red carpet.

The 50-year-old star joked he was “an assistant den mother” for director Whedon since he was the eldest in the group.
“I was pushing the younger talent and my contemporaries. I remember when I was that way. I kinda feel like I was the assistant headmaster,” he added.

Unlike their characters, Johansson, who plays the Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, showed off her slim figure in a colourful pleated dress by Balmain while Elizabeth Olsen – who joins the cast as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch – wore a black Yves Saint Laurent Cape dress and studded heels.

Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson on the red carpet (Joel Ryan/Invision)
Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen has joined the Avengers cast (Joel Ryan/Invision)

The Lost In Translation actress, 30, revealed she was pregnant with her first child during the shoot, yet she threw herself into the action scenes. She gave birth to daughter Rose Dorothy last September.

“I told them I was pregnant and they said, ‘Great, we don’t have to change anything. You’re going to be working extra hard.’ It was awesome,” she said.

Hemsworth, who portrays Norse god Thor, said it was great to reunite with his co-stars.

Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor (Joel Ryan/Invision)

“The first film felt like the first day of school with nervous energy. This one felt like a high school reunion,” he said.

Directed once again by Whedon, the Marvel superhero sequel – which comes three years after 2012′s Avengers Assemble – sees the superhero team reunite to save the planet from villain Ultron, played by James Spader.

Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo is back for another Avengers film (Joel Ryan/AP)

Bettany, who plays The Vision after being the voice of Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence program J.A.R.V.I.S, said he had no hesitations about signing on for a bigger role.

“I took all of 40 seconds to decide,” he said.

Comic-book fan Whedon, who will hand over directing duties for the next two-part instalment Avengers: Infinity War to Captain America filmmakers Anthony and Joe Russo, joked he cannot wait to have a rest.

Director/ Writer Joss Whedon  (Ian West/PA)
Director/writer Joss Whedon (Ian West/PA)
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson (Joel Ryan/Invision)

He said: “I don’t think I’ll ever get too far away from it because I love it too much. After my long rest, I plan a longer rest and then, eternal rest. I have no immediate plans, which is the best thing I’ve ever said.

“But I will be behind the barricades (with the fans) at the next one. That’s where I belong,” he added.

Avengers: Age Of Ultron opens in UK cinemas on Thursday April 23.