Scarlett Johansson stars as a superhuman in trailer for 'Lucy'

Scarlett Johansson stars as a superhuman in the first trailer released for Lucy.

The 29-year-old actress portrays the title character in the film, who acts as a drug mule for a sinister Taiwanese company. Lucy gains superhuman intelligence and strength after she accidentally ingests the drug she is carrying.

The trailer depicts Lucy's growing powers as she gains greater and greater access to previously inaccessible areas of her brain. Morgan Freeman stars alongside Johansson as the neuroscientist Norman.

Lucy is directed by Luc Besson of The Fifth Element fame. Besson has worked on a number of action films and television series, including the Transporter movies and the Nikita TV show. The director has described Lucy as a film "about pure intelligence."

"We're basically using ten percent of our brain," Besson told reporters in November. "What happens when we use more?"

The film is set in Taipei and is produced by EuropaCorp and Gaul's TF1 Film, and distributed by Universal. Lucy will debut in theaters on August 8.

[Variety]