Official synopsis released for Avengers: Age of Ultron

Until now, plot details about Avengers: Age of Ultron have proven thin on the ground. Directed by Joss Whedon, who steered 2012's Avengers Assemble to world-beating success, the film reunites squabbling superheroes Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Hulk in their fight against evil artificial intelligence Ultron, who – wait for it – plans to conquer the world.

Well now, comic book demigods Marvel have eased our pain by releasing the following, tantalising synopsis:

"Marvel Studios presents Avengers: Age of Ultron, the epic follow-up to the biggest superhero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s mightiest heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to the Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision."

Exciting or what? The prospect of Downey Jr., Evans, Hemsworth and Ruffalo once more squaring off against each other, plus a diabolical antagonist in the form of Spader's Ultron, should hopefully deliver a supercharged movie packed with laughs and thrills. 

And just when it couldn't get any cooler, there's the addition of fan favourites Wanda and Pietro (aka Quicksilver, who stole the show – albeit played by a different actor, Evan Peters – in this year's X-Men: Days of Future Past).

Looking forward to Avengers: Age of Ultron? Keep those excitement levels up – the film isn't due for release until 24th April 2015.