Sequels for superhero movies are a dime a dozen in Hollywood of late. But perhaps the one follow-up on the current movie calendar that has the most expectation resting upon its broad and burly shoulders is Avengers: Age of Ultron. After all, its predecessor has stormed past $1.5 billion since release to become the third highest-grossing film of all time, and is adorned by Marvel fans worldwide. No pressure, then, Mr. Whedon.
With the anticipated sequel pegged for May of next year, only those who attended this year’s San Diego Comic-Con had the chance to see some early footage. For the rest of us, though, Marvel has released a plot synopsis that reveals just the right amount of information without delving into untimely spoilers.
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.
Upon reading through the snippet, it’s clear the studio isn’t quite ready to reveal any fresh details just yet. Fans who have kept a close eye on Age of Ultron-related tidbits will instantly recognise the film’s core premise, with Earth’s dysfunctional band of heroes uniting to defeat a common enemy: James Spader’s technological Ultron, a sentient AI that sets about purging the human race.
Further in the synopsis, Marvel also makes mention to the much-touted newcomers — namely Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen, respectively.
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.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is scheduled to debut on May 1st, 2015.