The first trailer for writer-director Rian Johnson's Looper has gone online.  The futuristic thriller takes place in a world where time travel exists, but is only used on the black market. When the mob wants to kill someone, they send the target 30 years into the past where a contract killer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) does the dirty work. Things are going smoothly until Gordon-Levitt’s future self (Bruce Willis) is sent into the past to be killed.  As a huge fan of Johnson's previous work, Brick and The Brothers Bloom, I was already pretty damn excited for Looper, but this trailer is incredibly cool.  I love the premise and cast, and it looks as if Johnson has applied his wholly original filmmaking style to the sci-fi genre to great success.  I still don't entirely know how Gordon-Levitt's Bruce Willis impression is gonna play for an extended period of time, but it's a minor qualm and I really haven't seen enough footage to make a fair assessment.  All in all, I'm willing to bet Johnson's about to go 3 for 3.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, and Jeff Daniels.  Looper opens on September 28th.

Click over to Apple to watch in HD.

Here's the synopsis for Looper:

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels. Ram Bergman and James D. Stern produce.