After a highly successful 2016 that saw acclaimed blockbusters Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange get the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 3 off to a rousing start, the mega-franchise is poised to have an even bigger 2017. For the first time, this year sees the release of three new installments in the long-running series, beginning with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The highly-anticipated sequel secured Marvel’s traditional early May slot, kicking off another summer movie season. After the original film won over the hearts of fans and critics, many cannot wait to see what James Gunn and crew have in store.

Once again, the Guardians property has delivered another stellar marketing campaign, as many people enjoyed the first teaser trailer and Super Bowl spot. Promotional materials have highlighted the brand’s trademark sense of humor and sounds of Star-Lord’s new Awesome Mixtape. With just over two months to go until the movie’s premiere (as of this writing), the time has come for Marvel to ramp up their advertising efforts, and now they’ve release a full theatrical trailer, which you can watch above.

In addition to the preview, there was also a new Vol. 2 poster released, showcasing the whole team in a highly colorful design. See it below:

Set to the track “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac (possibly another song from Awesome Mixtape 2), the trailer follows the same basic principles as the earlier advertising items by being light on story details. Viewers do get to see a little more of the main villain Ayesha, who criticizes the Guardians for displaying traits of “fear, jealousy, and betrayal” and announcing its her people’s responsibility to “cleanse the universe of this weakness.” However, the trailer relies more on a series of out-of-context action shots, showcasing the film’s grand sense of spectacle. Baby Groot, the star of the first trailer, has a more minimal presence this time out, but still has some humorous moments - such as waving to Gamora mid-battle.

This trailer also outlines the primary theme of Vol. 2, which is family. Not only does the Guardians team have to come together to defend the galaxy once more, Peter Quill is set to have a reunion with his father, Ego the Living Planet. Kurt Russell’s character appears at the very end of the trailer, setting the stage for an interesting dynamic with Star-Lord. It’s said that the two don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye, but details remain slim for the time being. Peter’s line about how the one thing you’ve been looking for all your life is by your side all along could hold some clues as to how that relationship could play out; perhaps Star-Lord realizes his gang of misfit friends are the family he’s always wanted - not his own blood. The first Guardians didn’t skimp on the emotional element, so hopefully the sequel delivers in that department as well.

Source: Marvel Studios

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