Earlier this week, word got out that a teaser trailer for a new J.J. Abrams film called Super 8 would be playing in theaters in front of showings of Iron Man 2, starting with tonight’s midnight screenings.

Of course, initial reports were that Super 8 was somehow connected to another Abrams property, 2008’s Cloverfield, as either a sequel or more likely, a prequel [read Is There A ‘Cloverfield 2’ Teaser Trailer Attached To ‘Iron Man 2’?]. Abrams has since insisted that the film has nothing to do with Cloverfield, but being the man of mystery he is, would not offer up what it is about.

We have a super spy report on the soon-to-be released Super 8 teaser trailer that was given exclusively to Geeks of Doom by a very reliable source. You can read all about the footage here below, along with some non-spoilery facts that came direct from the teaser.

— Super 8 will be released next summer by Paramount Pictures.
— The film is written and directed by JJ Abrams, who is also producing through his Bad Robot company.
— Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment, and Bryan Burk are producing.

If you remember, the teaser trailer for Cloverfield took audiences by storm when it was showed without a title treatment prior to theatrical screenings of Transformers and what was first a mystery segued into a viral sensation.

Below is a description of the teaser trailer for Super 8, so if you don’t want to read SPOILERS about the footage, then continue no further. Chances are, the bootlegs of the trailer will make their way onto the internet by the morning anyhow (and then be taken down immediately after a million sites link to them).

But, if you’re curious now, continuing on for the detailed description of the teaser.

Footage Description

• Opens with green rating screen that it’s an approved preview for all audiences; then Paramount logo.
• Hard to tell what is happening because it’s very dark, but looks/sounds like a train.
• Against a black screen [you can hear nighttime chirping sounds and stars in the sky] are the words “IN 1979, THE U.S. AIR FORCE CLOSED A SECTION OF AREA 51.
• Switch to a railroad track. It’s nighttime, there’s a flashing red railroad traffic light along with ringing; screeching sound in the distance.
• Black screen again with what sounds like someone talking over a walkie-talkie or CB radio.

The words appear on screen: MATERIALS WERE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A SECURE FACILITY IN OHIO.

• A yellow pick-up truck driving fast at the camera and swerving, then spinning around to drive onto the railroad tracks.
• Railroad tracks going by fast from the perspective of the truck which is now driving towards the oncoming train; horn sounding.
• On screen with more radio talk: FROM PRODUCER STEVEN SPIELBERG
• Someone yelling “Oh my god” as we see the pick-up truck crash head-on into the oncoming train.
• Truck explodes on impact.
• From the fiery explosion, train cars fly off the track and flip around, getting demolished.
• On screen: AND DIRECTOR J.J. ABRAMS
• We see the railroad tracks with flames on them, everything looks destroyed.
• More wreckage; sound of metal scrapping.
• On screen: NEXT SUMMER
• Flash to falling power line; smoke rising.
• On screen: IT ARRIVES
• Closing in on what looks like a cargo hold with US AIRFORCE and logo on it; wheeled handle on what looks like a door on it is spinning. Looks like something inside is busting through as metal is becoming bend [Think Hulk.]
• Flash quickly to a cracked 8MM lens; reflected in it it we see film running.
• On screen: SUPER 8
• Super fast flash on something indistinguishable; looks like a night-vision view of something.
• On screen: title credits; Paramount and Bad Robot logos (and possibly Amblin in the center).

Paramount Pictures presents
An Amblin Entertainment/Bad Robot production “Super 8”
Produced by Steven Spielberg J.J. Abrams Bryan Burk
Written and directed by J.J. Abrams

• Of note, whenever the screen flashes to white on-screen words, it’s flickers a little like 8MM film reels do.
• The teaser trailer runs about 1:30 minutes.

On the one hand, I’m excited with the Spielberg and Abrams team-up, but apprehensive because when I see Spielberg and Area 51 together, I think Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Also, while I really enjoyed Cloverfield, I’m not really up for yet another shaky camcorder movie, which I’m guessing this is. Whether or not it has anything to do with Cloverfield is still up in the air (despite Abrams’ denials, I mean, would it really be so strange for his to keep us guessing?).

One thing I’m sure we can bank on is lots and lots of viral marketing.