There has been some serious buzz surrounding the upcoming release of the new Iron Man movie. This is to be expected seeing as how the movie is less than a year from release, and the studios are making sure that just enough information leaks out to keep prospective viewers and fans speculating! However, if this new trailer is any indication, the movie promises to be the darkest of the series, with Tony Stark and everything he cares about being put in mortal danger.

As for the details which are clear, the following details are now known. Guy Pierce and Ben Kingsley are the movie’s new villain couple, representing two initially cooperative, but ultimately incompatible, efforts to bring Stark down. This is a familiar theme in the series, with Stark battling both corporate rivals and personal enemies at the same time. Whereas Guy Pierce represents a nanotech scientists who’s no doubt after Stark’s empire, Kingsley plays a Chinese national named the Mandarin who has his own Iron Man suit and wants to kill Stark.

Of course, Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow are back, reprising their roles as James Rhodes and Pepper Potts – the voices of reason in Stark’s life. And if what I’ve read is true, Rhodes also comes standard with the new “War Machine” variant of the Iron Man suit, which means we can expect some cooperative firing like we got at the end of the last movie! And last, but not least, writer/director Shane Black (of Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang fame), is on hand for this one, and some pretty over-the-top visuals are promised.

But don’t take my word for it, watch the trailer. It’s sure to jump start your day!