There's a lot of new information in the latest Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer. So much new information, in fact, that a trailer breakdown was in order, and here it is in its gloriously over-analytical glory, touching on hidden messages in Oscorp's snooping screens and those octopus-like metal arm attachments you were wondering about...
We open on a wind-buffeted Spidey, shot from behind, as he plummets silently towards New York. It’s a marked difference from the first film – the video game-esque first person perspective is nowhere to be seen here. Note also the natty new suit's redesign, complete with new logo and a thicker belt. As producer Matt Tolmach noted, “The suit is different. The suit is bad-ass. The suit is improved.”
And here’s our first glimpse of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), having peeled off his skin-tight get-up. He’s looking fairly contemplative, while the perched-on-a-building shot is also reminiscent of Batman Begins, where the caped crusader had a love of balancing precariously on rooftops, just so he could have a good think. Peter’s posture isn’t nearly as good, mind.
In the trailer’s first action beat, Spidey catches a police car before it crushes a cop – a possible allusion to the start of Spider-Man 2, where hastily spun web saves the crowd from a flying car. We’re also in Times Square, clearly the location for a key action sequence in the film, as we’ll see later… Lastly, the distant hoodie isn’t just waiting for a hug – it’s the soon-to-be-revealed Electro (Jamie Foxx). As Peter reflects, “It’s just a matter of time before I face those with more power than I can overcome."
Surprisingly, there have been no promises that this particular sequel will be darker than before. Still, Peter’s not become totally happy-go-lucky: here he is at a grave, presumably that of good ol’ Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen), who looks set to appear in flashbacks.
And here’s the film’s second baddie, Rhino (Paul Giamatti). In the comics, his real name is Aleksei Sytsevich, transformed into the leather-hided villain when a synthetic costume bonded to his skin. This on-screen version is a much more mechanical menace, though if the shoulder’s lettering is anything to go by, Rhino’s Russian origins remain intact. We can also glimpse Giamatti’s shaved bonce here – on-set photographs show him as a near-unrecognisable tattooed thug.
With the helmet down, we can see his impressive horn (steady). Giamatti’s Rhino is also a distinctly non-biological villain, evoking the mechanical R.H.I.N.O. from Ultimate Marvel.
And here we have our trailer’s first mystery man. The most sensible guess is that this is Green Goblin, but the impressive blonde bouffant bears little resemblance to the brunette Harry Osborne (Dane DeHaan). The costume itself is also oddly similar to Matt Damon’s in Elysium, though we’re sure this is an innocent coincidence…
It’s Oscorp’s shiny new headquarters, rebuilt after the Lizard’s shenanigans last time around. Spider-Man is swinging towards it, and being followed by a helicopter. Something ominous could be afoot…
This is either a very chilly Peter, or Electro about to wreak some serious havoc. He seems mighty pissed off, and about to draw his gun/lightning bolt in a shot that could be straight from Sergio Leone.
Finally, our first full face-to-face with Spidey. As we’ve said, the suit’s been tweaked in a few ways: the colours are slightly darker, and the eyes are much bigger and rounder. It makes him look so much more adorable.
This innocent-looking police pile-up could be a homage to The Blues Brothers... but probably isn't. More likely is that it may be a chase centring on Paul Giamatti’s Aleksei Systevich (A.K.A. Rhino), who has been snapped on set in a very similar situation…
Despite appearances, this isn’t our hero slipping on a banana peel. Instead, he’s dodging bullets, complete with some lovely bullet time. You’re also being instructed to “Follow the Daily Bugle on Tumblr”. You could do that, or you could follow Empire on Tumblr - it's your call. Anyway, the man responsible for the bullets is none other than…
Paul Giamatti! Look at the old baldie bastard, shooting ineffectually at the web-spinner. He’s got worse aim than a blindfolded stormtrooper. Note also his natty threads – why bother with the Rhino armour when you’ve got such a fetching shell suit?
Here we have our first glimpse of Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan). He and Peter are using each other’s full names, and seem a lot less friendly than Tobey Maguire and James Franco. Most famous for Chronicle, DeHaan is now sporting a quite epic side parting worthy of Gary Oldman's Zorg in The Fifth Element, which goes well with his sinister demeanour…
“Oscorp had you under surveillance,” Harry admits to Peter. We can glimpse some intriguing files here, including “Power Station – NY” (possibly the setting for the trailer’s closing battle), “Experiment Oct 32A” (Oct = Doctor Octopus?), and – most teasingly – “Venom Storage 7U”.
Harry’s clearly in charge here, presenting Peter with quite sinister seeming photos. Of course, he may also be just showing off his shiny touch screen, which looks a lot like Sony’s PS4 interface. Surely an innocent coincidence…
The surveillance photos include an adorable mini-Peter, a smiling Aunt May (Sally Field), and a pre-shooting Uncle Ben. Clearly this surveillance has been going for some time.
This appears to be Peter’s bedroom lair, the walls plastered with maps and all sorts of detective work. We know from every movie ever, after all, that when someone starts putting stuff on the wall and drawing lines from one thing to another, it's a sign of hard work and heavy brain activity. There are also a lot of photos of Gwen Stacey (Emma Stone). Is she under threat, or does Peter just sometimes feel a little lonely when he’s working?
“There’s something you’re not telling me, Aunt May.” “I once told you that secrets have a cost. The truth does too.” What’s the big secret? It seems to be to do with Uncle Ben and Peter’s father, who makes his own appearance later. Whatever the secret, though, it must be sad: we spy a solitary tear rolling down Peter’s cheek.
This looks to be an underground lair, concealed within a subway station. Could it be connected to Dr. Connors’ secret subterranean hideout from the first film - or is this Peter's father's den?
Clearly Peter’s upset and confused. “This isn’t the 11.30am to Brooklyn! I’m going to be late to work!” Oh, also he may have stumbled on his dad’s secret laboratory. Look at all those beakers and tubes - Walter White would be very impressed.
Nope, guess not. It’s Richard Parker (Campbell Scott). He’s no relation to the boat-dwelling tiger, and instead has recorded a video to impart some crucial information. “I have discovered what Oscorp was going to use my research for. I have a responsibility to protect the world from what I know they’re capable of.”
Who’s this man in the hat? His blonde locks suggest it could be Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans), fresh out of prison and with a stylish new outfit. Then again, Norman Osborn - who we'll see more of later, in a less healthy state - wore a similar get-up when he visited The Lizard in his cell in the credit sting of the first film.
Whoever it is, he’s walking past some doozies. On the right you can see the four arms of Doctor Octopus, and on the left, it’s the wings of Vulture. This is a strong hint that we may see the Sinister Six being formed onscreen to defeat Spidey, since the original line-up included these two fellas, plus Sandman, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, and Electro. Will we have to wait until The Amazing Spider-Man 3 to see them all together? And could this be, as some have suggested, footage from Amazing Spider-Man 2's credit sting, snuck into the trailer to excite our Spidey-senses?
Speaking of Electro, check out these angry-looking electric eels, swirling about in their tank. The floor is also stamped with the words, “CAUTION HIGH VOLTAGE”. No prizes for guessing who we’re about to see…
Either it’s a freshly boiled ostrich egg, or the blue bonce of our pal Electro, undergoing a serious transformation.
And here’s Electro making a very nerve-ous (boom boom) appearance – weirdly, it looks a lot like Dr Manhattan’s transformation in Watchmen. Anyway, Electro’s audience has either been bored to sleep, or something a bit worse. Except, that is, for a young man with an impressive side parting seen by Electro's left elbow. It looks to be none other than Harry Osborne himself.
And it seems this is Harry in full Green Goblin mode. It’s the same outfit as we saw at the start, complete with hoverboard. Perhaps symbolically, he’s now on the outside of Oscorp, looking in, with bullet holes in the glass. And who’s the mystery lady? It looks a lot like Felicity Jones, whose as-yet-unrevealed character is apparently in a “special relationship” with Norman Osborn.
And here’s Big Norm himself, as played by Chris Cooper. As alluded to in the first film, he’s not looking terribly well – the result of an experiment gone wrong? Still, he’s not getting sentimental in his old age. “What about Peter?” asks Harry. “Not everyone has a happy ending,” replies Osborn Sr. "Maniacal laugh, maniacal laugh" indeed.
The dainty footwork of the Rhino is on full display here. Some poor sod’s going to have to fill in that pothole - these super villains are so inconsiderate.
And here’s Spidey, in glorious technicolour! Descending on that familiar Rhino horn, he’s dodging an explosion while wielding a manhole cover as a makeshift weapon.
Here we have a mystery pilot (who looks oddly like Sean Bean) grappling with a grey-haired man - Richard Parker, perhaps, in a flashback? - on what looks like a plane. Not a great deal to be seen here, but the pilot man does look to be wearing a parachute. Could prove handy…
This is our first complete look at Jamie Foxx in full Electro get up. Reminiscent of Abe Sapien's underwater onesie, it’s a fetching leather one-piece, with stylish fingerless gloves. His sparkly brain is working overtime, and he’s about to click his fingers. Chances are this isn’t the start of a West Side Story number.
There’s Electro in a hoodie, flying back into a screen emblazoned with Spider-Man’s mug. This means that either there are news crews following their big battle, or it’s an advert promoting Spidey’s new line of bespoke cologne.
An intriguing one here, as Spider-Man swings round to kick a baddie, who looks to be the Green Goblin. It’s difficult to tell from the face, which seems to be unfinished, but this would presumably be Harry Osborn. Trouble is, he’s sporting some lovely blonde locks.
We’re back to the plane, this time as it plummets towards the ground. Nice sunset, too.
Electro’s back in his hood. With a sparky chest, he gives an enormous roar (or the world’s biggest yawn). Whichever it is, he’s definitely not happy, as Jamie Foxx revealed previously: “People have stolen his ideas at the big company. He’s a nobody. At a certain point, Spider-Man bumps into him and says, ‘You’re my guy. You’re my ears and eyes on the street.’ He sort of thinks that, ‘I am Spider-Man’s partner!’ He’s cutting out Spider-Man’s face and pasting it on all his boards… He has something tragic happen and, when it turns on, he lights up.”
Here we have Harry in a great deal of pain, presumably undergoing his transformation into a fully-fledged blonde (plus the whole Green Goblin thing). Either that, or we’re finally getting a glimpse into Harry’s love life.
In case you were in any doubt, it seems pretty clear by this point that Electro also has the handy power of flight.
Gwen’s in trouble here, and surrounded by cogs. Time is said to be a major theme in this installment, so it may be significant that Ms Stacey is trapped in what looks to be a clock tower…
Never fear, Spidey’s here. He’s not one to abandon Gwen, but she is notorious in the comics for meeting an untimely end at the hands of the Green Goblin. Could Peter be arriving too late? The structure above him certainly looks similar to the building where he collides with the Goblin in frame 36…
Just in case you were in any doubt about Electro’s intentions, he’s here to clear all that up: “Soon everyone in this city will know how it feels to live in a world without power… without mercy… without Spider-Man.”
We end with a dramatic (and very 3D-friendly) airborne battle between Spidey and Electro. Not only does it look like Foxx’s villain has no trouble with a little bit of flying, but if you look closely, he seems to be transporting himself in zaps from place to place.
Now, of course, you have to watch The Amazing Spider-Man 2 teaser trailer again.
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Times Square is getting a proper battering in this film, clearly. Explosions are bringing down a fair few buildings, complete with some tell-tale sparks.