Pictured: New York street turns into a disaster zone for new Avengers movie... as Robert Downey Jr joins cast for more action packed scenes

By ELLIE GENOWER

Disaster zone: A street in midtown New York City was turned into a disaster area earlier yesterday for the forthcoming blockbuster movie The Avengers

With plumes of smoke, a pile up of bright yellow taxis and burned out cars, it looked very much like a disaster had happened in a midtown Manhattan street yesterday.

The road provided the dramatic setting for big budget action movie The Avengers, which is currently shooting in New York as the city prepares to mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11.


Mayhem: New York taxis pile up and a car is burned out on the Manhattan set yesterday


Extras and crew members swarmed around in between breaks from filming the movie, which features a star-studded cast including Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans.

The stars filmed several action shots for the movie over the weekend, all reprising their superhero roles seen in previous films based on Marvel comic characters.


To the rescue: Iron man star Robert Downey Jr was filming in the guise of alter ego Tony Stark in the Central Park area of the city this weekend


Today's dramatic street scenes are clearly a reflection of the film's big budget status - it is rumoured to be costing in the region of $150 million.

Several different scene set ups in the city appeared to have included car pile ups and burned out vehicles, with one area showing with the remains of a jet engine, though to be the superhero's method of transport.


Need for speed: Downey Jr, as alter ego Tony Stark gets into a convertible sports car for one new scene


The film tells the story of Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) director of the peacekeeping organisation S.H.I.E.L.D., who recruits Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) Thor (Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) to save the world from destruction.

The weekend saw Robert Downey Jr on set filming in a black sports car, appearing as his suited alter ego millionaire Tony Stark, who becomes Iron Man.

According to Chris Evans, Stark and his character Captain America will see a bit of conflict in the movie.

'I think there's certainly a dichotomy - this kind of friction between myself and Tony Stark,' Evans told MTV.


Super jet: A section of fuselage sticks into the side of a wooden prop in one area of the city


Ready to save the world; Several cars were destroyed and covered with rocks for use in one scene


'They're polar opposites. One guy is flash and spotlight and smooth, and the other guy is selfless and in the shadows and kind of quiet... and they have to get along. They explore that, and it's pretty fun.'

Elsewhere, Scarlett Johansson has been busy in the guise of her Iron Man 2 role The Black Widow, wearing the character's trademark black catsuit.

Jeremy Renner also stars as Hawkeye, the world's greatest archer, and British actor Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Loki from recent hit movie Thor.

Renner was seen alongside Johansson and Evans filming some high octane chase scenes over the weekend.


To the rescue: Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have been busy filming several action scenes amidst the rubble


In addition to filming in New York, the cast and crew are also expected to shoot scenes in New Mexico and Los Angeles.

The Avengers team originally made its début in print in 1963 and was created by Marvel comics writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.

The film is set for release in North American in May 2012.


Hammering it home: Chris Hemsworth towered over co-star Robert Downey Jr as they prepared for a scene

The Avengers explosion scene in Pershing Sq 9-4-11


The Avengers | Filming In New York City #1


The Avengers | Filming In New York City #2


The Avengers - Extra Video Clip 1


source: dailymail