Lionsgate has released the first trailer for The Expendables 2, directed by Simon West (The Mechanic).  It's a teaser that doesn't get into plot, or even showcase any major action.  At this early stage, with over 9 months to go until the August 17 release, the film is selling itself entirely on the reputation of the cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth, Jean Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If you are interested in the plot, the studio also unveiled the first official synopsis for The Expendables 2 along with a new promo poster.  See it all after the jump.

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I have to admit, I got excited when "NORRIS" flashed across the screen, followed by a cut to Norris whipping off his glasses.  And I didn't even see the first one!  Internet, what can we do with the phrase "Also Van Damme"?  I don't know what exactly, but it feels like there's something there.

Here's the official synopsis:

The Expendables are back and this time it's personal... Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Lee Christmas (Lee Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren),Toll Road (Randy Couture) and Hale Caesar (Terry Crews) -- with newest members Billy the Kid (Liam Hemsworth) and Maggie (Yu Nan) aboard -- are reunited when Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) enlists the Expendables to take on a seemingly simple job. The task looks like an easy paycheck for Barney and his band of old-school mercenaries. But when things go wrong and one of their own is viciously killed, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time -- six pounds of weapons-grade plutonium; enough to change the balance of power in the world. But that's nothing compared to the justice they serve against the villainous adversary who savagely murdered their brother. That is done the Expendables way....

And here's the poster, followed by an update on the skull/guns logo.  Looks like outer space to me, but I guess that's dust?  Dust that men made. Men with their guns.