Universal Pictures has released a new trailer for The Huntsman: Winter’s War, and this thing kind of looks like a blast. Taking place both before and after the events of Snow White and the Huntsman, the film aims to tell the origin story of Chris Hemsworth’s Huntsman, who was raised to be a warrior in the army of Queen Ravenna’s (Charlize Theron) sister Freya, played by Emily Blunt. But when the Huntsman eschews his solemn vows and strikes up a relationship with fellow warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain), the two invoke the ire of Freya and her resurrected sister Ravenna.

Cedric Nicolas-Troyan directs this prequel/spinoff, and this new trailer delves a bit deeper into the Huntsman’s origin story while also highlighting the film’s tone, which isn’t nearly as solemn as its predecessor. I’m curious to find out if that makes this movie markedly more entertaining than the dull Snow White and the Huntsman, but regardless, the cast alone makes this worth seeing. Nicolas-Troyan appears to have found some inspired visuals, and I appreciate that the fantastical story isn’t taking itself too seriously.


Take a look at the new trailer below. The film alsos tars Nick Frost, Sam Claflin, and Rob Brydon. The Huntsman: Winter’s War opens in theaters on April 22nd.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Huntsman: Winter’s War:

The fantastical world of Snow White and the Huntsman expands to reveal how the fates of The Huntsman Eric and Queen Ravenna are deeply and dangerously intertwined.  Chris Hemsworth and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron return to their roles in The Huntsman: Winter's War, an epic action-adventure in which they are joined by Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain, as well as director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan.  Producer Joe Roth (Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland) once again leads the team in a breathtaking new tale nested in the legendary saga.

Long before the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) was thought vanquished by Snow White's blade, she watched silently as her sister, Freya (Blunt), suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom.  With Freya's ability to freeze any enemy, the young ice queen has spent decades in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly huntsmen—including Eric (Hemsworth) and warrior Sara (Chastain)—only to find that her prized two defied her one demand: Forever harden your hearts to love.


When Freya learns of her sister's demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power.  But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it's ever seen.  Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable...unless the banished huntsmen who broke their queen's cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.

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Image via Universal Pictures

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