‘Avengers’ clip: Scarlett Johansson breaks out Joss Whedon’s wit

A new clip from “The Avengers” shines a spotlight on Scarlett Johansson –  as well as writer-director Joss Whedon’s trademark wit.

The 43-second clip, released one month before the film hits theaters on May 4, represents the first “Avengers” footage revealed by Marvel since the trailer. The film assembles a dream team of mighty heroes, including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).

The new scene shows Johansson as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. the Black Widow, helplessly tied to a chair, surrounded by a military man and two goons. Well, maybe “helplessly” isn’t quite the right word.

“I’m in the middle of an interrogation,” she says, with a trace of exasperation, into a phone propped on her shoulder. “This moron is giving me everything.”

On the other end of the phone is her colleague, Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), who makes it clear that this can’t wait — Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) has been compromised. What follows is a bone-cracking, wood-chipping, back-flipping action sequence in which Johansson takes out the baddies, while still tied to that chair. It’s a combination of sass, chilled confidence and martial-arts prowess that would make Buffy proud.

– Noelene Clark

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