Film Trailer | Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Marvel are on something of a roll at this moment in time. With Joss Whedon’s Avengers Assemble (2012) and Shane Black’s riotous Iron Man 3 (2013) both crossing the billion dollar mark at the global box office, it’s clear that their colourful superhero blockbusters have struck a tone with not only comic book fans, but uninformed audiences as well. There’s a good chance that Alan Taylor’s Thor: The Dark World (2013) will continue the strong start to Marvel’s ‘Phase Two’ when it hits UK cinemas next week (you can read my review here), and smartly the studio has also seen fit to reveal the first trailer for Anthony and Joe Russo’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) online this week to ride on the current wave of goodwill.

Here’s the synopsis:

After the cataclysmic events of New York, Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington DC and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Cap struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Cap and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable foe – the Winter Soldier.

This first teaser trailer gives us some great looks at various action sequences, including the destruction of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Hellicarier, Falcon (Anthony Mackie) taking flight, and most enticingly a plain-clothed Cap battling his former friend Bucky (Sebastian Stan), now known as the Winter Soldier. As per the blockbuster sequel mantra, the stakes look to have been significantly upped, with flashes of a very scared looking Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson) and what might be Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) in hospital. Even more interesting talking points can be derived from the brief snippets of conversations Cap has with both current and new characters.

The banter between the star-spangled hero and Johannson’s Natasha Romanoff indicates that their relationship has deepened (those who have been scouring the web will know just how much), whilst an exchange with Jackson’s Fury suggests that Cap will have difficulties adjusting to the way in which the organisation operates in today’s world. The veteran soldier’s old-fashioned ideals vs. S.H.I.E.L.D’s pre-emptive strike mentality will likely be one of the film’s biggest themes. Also glimpsed in the trailer is Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce and Frank Grillo. Not present in the footage but confirmed to feature are Emily VanCamp, Cobie Smulders and Hayley Atwell.

Anthony and Joe Russo’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier is released in UK cinemas on 28 March, 2014.