‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ Trailer Is an Epic Two Minutes

Whoa. The trailer for 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past" just posted and it is legitimately nothing short of epic. Narrated by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart, of course), the preview seamlessly outlines the plot while stirring up some deep emotions -- no easy feat.

The footage, which originally premiered at San Diego Comic-Con in July but now makes it online for the first time, confirms that this latest "X-Men" installment (the seventh altogether, counting the two "Wolverine spin-offs) is this franchise's "Avengers," bringing together the casts of the first four ensemble flicks for what promises to be an X-traordinary romp.

ICYMI, the story is pretty straightforward: the X-Men brass send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to the past to change a historical event that could affect both human and mutants alike. The only catch? Wolverine has to find Xavier and convince him to turn away from an ambiguous-but-darker path. "Lead me," his present-day self explains. "Guide me. Be patient with me."

"Patience isn't my strongest suit," Wolverine quips.

And so the stage is set, and it's seemingly more serious than those of the franchise's previous installments.

"Although there is a great deal of humor, the overall tone is a bit darker than previous films, particularly because of the stakes," Bryan Singer tweeted to fans on October 28.

Add a swelling orchestral soundtrack, a tearful Mystique (who Singer claims is a "much more hardened kick-a** character than she was in #FirstClass"), a White House on lockdown, and a few hand-to-hand combat scenes … and you've got yourself the stuff that blockbusters are made of.

Absent from the trailer, however, are big action sequences -- and no sentinels are shown. Singer admitted that this wasn't necessarily an artistic choice; it was a practical one: The visual effects aren't done yet, so they're not included. Still, you'll hardly miss them, as the character-driven plot line of the brief peek is so strong.

The trailer closes with a final plea. "Please," Xavier begs. "We need you to hope again."

Technically, he's talking to a younger version of himself (James McAvoy), but after watching this two minutes of total awesomeness, we feel like he's talking to us ... and that alone fills us with hope.

"X-Men: Days of Future Past" hits theaters May 23, 2014.

Watch Comic-Con interview with the cast of "X-Men":