HOLLYWOOD—Making a great comic book movie ain’t easy. Ever since “The Dark Knight” arrived in 2008, countless films have attempted to copy that success with multiple failures.  However, one picture came close to succession in my opinion: “X-Men: First Class.”  Nearly four years later, the sequel to that sci-fi, action extravaganza “X-Men: Days of Future Past” will hit multiplexes on May 23, 2014.  After weeks of speculation, the first trailer arrived on Tuesday, October 29 for movie lovers to view.

The film will play with the idea of time travel as the mutants face a new threat where if they don’t change the future it will affect their current state in the 1970s. President Nixon is in office, there are a ton of character highlights of present and past including Storm (Halle Berry), Iceman (Shawn Ashmore), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Magneto (Ian McKellen)/(Michael Fassbender Professor X (Patrick Stewart)/(James McAvoy) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) to name a few.  There are a lot of mutants in this picture, so it will be interesting to see how director Bryan Singer weaves such a tantalizing tale giving each character ample screen time.

It’s important to note, this picture presents a dark tone to the franchise, something that was glimmered briefly in “X-Men: First Class.” Things do not look good for our favorite mutants; lives are at risk and I can sadly see a few faves meeting their maker at the expense of Professor Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage).

One thing missing from the trailer are special effects and actions sequences which means, the drama will reach new heights. The story appears to place the future Professor X (Stewart) grappling with his present self (McAvoy) who has lost a bit of hope. Future Professor X is relying on his tortured colleague Wolverine (Jackman) to save the mutant race by going back in time to prevent a disaster from taking place.

It’s a fight that forces all mutants to bond in order to save themselves from extinction.  In the midst of chaos, friends will become enemies; there is a great battle scene between Beast (Nicholas Hoult) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), as well as a frightening scene between comrades Magneto (Fassbender) and Mystique ( Lawrence). Just what prompts the magnetic genius to frighten his newest ally? I’m dying to know.

With so many comic book movies hitting the big screen in the coming year, this is one high on my list simply for the fact that much about the movie is not known.  This is the perfect example of a trailer being carefully pieced together to peak the interest of the audience.  Give just basic elements and let the movie tell the story.  “X-Men: Days of Future Past” hits theaters on May 23, 2014.