One of the reasons I assume most people waited hours in line at todays Walt Disney Studios panel was to see “The Avengers.” Once we sat down in the D23 Arena, they made us wait for 2 ½ hours before giving us anything. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait.

Kevin Feige came out to talk a little bit about the production and how Disney fits into the Marvel universe.  There are two weeks left of filming but the studio gave us a nice little treat to keep us occupied.

The clip opens with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in the custody of S.H.I.E.L.D. He is locked in a futuristic looking cell onboard the helicarrier. Nick Fury (Sam Jackson) enters the room and quickly sets the tone of the scene.  Fury informs Loki that if he attempted to escape or even scratch the glass in his cell, he would pay price.  Fury heads over to a computer screen hits a few buttons and the floor beneath Loki’s cell opens up revealing that they are 30,000 ft in the air and he wouldn’t hesitate to flip the switch.

Loki smirks and respinds to Fury’s power play “It’s an impressive cage but not built for me” to which Fury responds “Built for something a lot stronger than you.”

At this moment it’s reviled that members of the Avengers are watching from another location this interaction on screen.  The camera pans directly to the man the cage was made for, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).  Loki seems to be very aware of the trouble the team has with their jolly green giant. He continues his verbal assault by asking Fury “How desperate are you to call upon such creatures to defend you?” To which Fury snaps back “How desperate am I? You threaten my world with war. You steal a force you can’t control (Cosmic Cube)…you talk about peace but you kill for fun…

Loki, who seems to know more then he lets on returns with an eerie retort. “It burns you to be so close, to have power. And for what? A warm light for all mankind to share.” A calm comes over the actor, “Allow me to remind you of what real power is.”

The scene ends with Sam Jackson shining through Fury as he walks out on Loki “Well, let me know if ‘Real Power’ wants a magazine or something.” As Fury leaves, Loki turns to one of the several camera’s pointed at him fully aware he’s being watched. Over the shoulder of Captain America the monitor goes dark and Bruce Banner speaks for the first time.  “He really grows on you doesn’t he?”

The footage continues with a bit of an action montage highlighting a conversation Tony Stark is having with someone off screen.  As Stark mixes a drink he states “Let’s take a head count?”

“Two world-class assassins,..” The scene cuts to Hawkeye and Black Widow doing work.

“..a demigod..” cut to Thor in what appears to be a fight against Captain America if you can believe it.

“…a living legend who actually lives up to the legend…” as Steve Rogers looking insanely cool in his updated uniform.

He wraps up his list with “And you, big fella!” Stark continues talking to his off-screen counterpart, “You’ve managed to piss off every single one of them!”

The camera cuts to reveal Tony has been talking to Loki the entire time, to which the Norseman reacts foolishly “I have an army,”

Stark fires back, in the only way Stark can, and with full confidence, “We have a Hulk” Which leads into our very first look at The Hulk in action as he roars as the screen goes black.

My Reaction:

I will say the tone of the film seems darker than I anticipated.  I have always been on the “glass half empty” side of this project.  I have, since day one, felt like this film might be too ambitious for a guy like Joss Whedon. However, I feel like this could actually be everything Avenger fans have been waiting for.  In the clip described above, it really seems like The Hulk may play a more central role than one might have thought.  He seems to be the loose canon that could affect the outcome of the film.  Both good guys and bad guys seem to be very aware of his situation.  It was nice to see, not only Mark Ruffalo, but also The Hulk in his true form as well.   It also confirmed my assumptions that Tom Hiddlestons Loki may possibly the greatest villain of the current Marvel universe.  He’s creepy and steals every scene. For the first time since the project has been announced I must say, I can’t wait to see this movie!