"I'm going to show you something beautiful... Everyone screaming... For mercy. You want to protect the world but you don't want it to change... You're all puppets... Tangled in strings... Strings."

It's here. And a whole week earlier than planned. The trailer of Avengers: Age Of Ultron "supposedly" leaked online and instead of taking legal action, Marvel decided to be complete sports about it and blamed Hydra, a fictional terrorist organisation in their own comics. *Grin*

It was a masterstroke and perfect damage control. So thanks to Hydra, we got to see the trailer of probably the most anticipated film in recent times – Avengers: Age Of Ultron – a sequel to the 2012 blockbuster, The Avengers, well in advance and suffice to say, and I speak for quite a few geeks here, we weren't disappointed. In fact it'd be safe to say, I had something of a geekgasm and nearly had to change my pants after that gobsmacking teaser. Yes. TMI. I know.

The tone of the sequel looks decidedly darker, way darker than the first, and it seems, Joss Whedon has done away with the wisecracks and quips of the first film entirely.

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Earth's mightiest heroes Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), combine forces again to defeat a sinister enemy, Ultron (voiced by James Spader) – essentially an AI programmed with elements of Tony Stark's personality, out to eradicate humanity.

Amidst all this chaos they also encounter the trouble twins, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), initially out to make their lives hell, but later joining their cause in defeating a common enemy.

I could go on and on about this trailer but I'll try to keep it succinct.

The darker tone of the film is a definite surprise given that the project is backed by Disney, but is a welcome change.

Glimpses of Steve Rogers' smashed shield, a quivering Bruce Banner, or Thor dropping his hammer linger long after the two minute something trailer is over, and will definitely leave fans thirsting for more.

Is Whedon going to do the unthinkable and dispose of one of the main characters? We'll only have to wait seven months to find out for ourselves. Ugh.

You're probably one of the 25 million people that's viewed the trailer in less than 24 hours, but just in case you haven't here it is again:

Gallery: Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron: Official Synopsis

Marvel Studios presents “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to the Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure. 

Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk.  Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision. Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963. Get set for an action-packed thrill ride when The Avengers return in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015.

Avengers : Age Of Ultron also stars Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders and Paul Bettany (as Vision) and hits theatres 1 May 2015.

Related LOLz: The anticipated Marvel film's trailer hit the same day as an awaited Bollywood film, PK's and I must say, this tweet in particular made me giggle. If you're a fan of both genres you'll get the gist of it: