Late last night, Marvel announced that the first trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron would debut during next week’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, but less than 24 hours later it found its way online. In frustration, the studio took to Twitter, said a simple “Dammit, Hydra,” and officially released it a week early, along with the first poster!
As you can see, the film looks far different in tone than its predecessor, and the stakes have dramatically been raised. James Spader provides a haunting narration as the titular killing machine, Ultron, and is especially creepy when he appears in Avengers Tower in pieces, mimicking a puppet on a string.
We also get a few great glimpses at the new Hulkbuster armor, which fans have long been dying to see in action on the big screen. Tony Stark may have decided to retire at the end of Iron Man 3, but it looks like that holiday is cut short not only by Ultron’s mission to wipe out humanity, but the need to control the Hulk, as well.
Of course, there’s also plenty of footage of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including a battle weary Captain America, Hawkeye running from gunfire somewhere in the wilderness, Thor taking Tony by the throat and Black Widow looking especially haunted in an empty room. Nick Fury makes his triumphant return as well, eye patch and all, and we finally get a glimpse of The Twins, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch (Aaron Taylor Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen, respectively) in action. From the looks of it, they are on Ultron’s side at first, but join in the fight against the stray Iron Legion by the film’s end.
All in all, the new trailer gave fans just enough footage to get them pumped for the next chapter in the ever-expanding Marvel saga, while effectively meeting the high bar set by Joss Whedon himself in the first Avengers team-up in 2012. He’s long promised that Age of Ultron would be darker and more character-driven, and from the looks of it, he’s a man of his word.
Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters on May 1st, 2015.
