Marvel Studios has just released the official theatrical trailer for The Avengers. Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon helms this action blockbuster, which finds S.H.I.E.L.D operative Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, Jackie Brown) leading a team of superheroes to do battle against fallen Asgardian god Loki (Tom Hiddleston, Wallander).
Fury's "Avengers Initiative" draws together some of Marvel Comics' most iconic characters: Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey, Jr., Iron Man), Steve "Captain America" Rogers (Chris Evans, Captain America: The First Avenger), Thor (Chris Hemsworth, Thor), Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker), Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson, Iron Man 2), and Bruce "The Hulk" Banner (Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right, replacing Edward Norton from The Incredible Hulk, who in turn replaced Eric Bana from Hulk).
Joining them is an impressive ensemble cast including Gwyneth Paltrow (Se7en), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting), and Clark Gregg ((500) Days of Summer). The Avengers also utilizes the vocal talents of Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind) as Stark's loyal computer assistant Jarvis and Lou Ferrigno (I Love You, Man) - returning to the character that made him a star - as the voice of Banner's decidedly short-tempered alter-ego.
This official trailer shows off quite a bit more than the teaser attached to the end of Captain America: The First Avenger; Whedon is attempting a scale of action far larger than anything he did on television for Buffy, Angel, Firefly, or Dollhouse - the quick glimpses of destruction even seem to exceed the action from Whedon's Serenity theatrical feature. More importantly, the trailer gives a better sense of the interplay between the Avengers, particularly the contentious relationship that puts Stark and Rogers at odds. In addition, the footage displays more of Ruffalo's Hulk in action than viewers have previously seen.
The Avengers' U.S. release date is scheduled for May 4th, 2012.
Update: The following is the final theatrical trailer.