Depressing alternative Avengers opening revealed

An alternative opening to 'Avengers Assemble' has been revealed, and it's much darker than the scene that made the finished film.

The sequence shot by director Joss Whedon has been unveiled as part of the extras on the Blu-ray and DVD release.

Watch the video below:

It plays out rather differently to the jovial tone of the finished feature, making for a much darker take on Whedon's record-breaking blockbuster.

It depicts a New York City that has been wrecked and lies smouldering, with Captain America surveying the carnage, and S.H.I.E.L.D agent Maria Hill (a rather cross Cobie Smulders) answering to the government over what looks to be a failed operation by Nick Fury's superhero team.

The damage to the city has been estimated at around $160 billion (£101
billion) had it occurred in real life, according to disaster experts speaking to the Hollywood Reporter.

'Avengers Assemble' is out on DVD and Blu-ray on 17 September.