'The Avengers': Footage Leaks Online (Spoilers)

It's not being called a trailer for The Avengers....but it certainly looks and feels like one.

Bootlegged footage of next summer's big Marvel tentpole began popping up online Monday. The poorly-camcorded recording features Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) beating up a punching bag and then being approached by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). The two exchange some dialogue about saving the world, which leads into a series of shots featuring quick cuts of Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Jeremy Renner (as Hawkeye, shooting an arrow! Followed by explosions!), Scarlett Johansson, a flying Iron Man, then heroes assembled in a conference room (yes that is Chris Hemsworth as Thor). Fury then says "Gentlemen, you're up," a logo for The Avengers appears, then another scene, and finally "May 2012."

Punctuated by a movie crowd going wild.

Sources tell us the footage will run after the credits of Captain America, which opens Friday. Marvel has practically patented these "buttons" that appear at the end of their movies as teasers for the next film. The recent series that began with Iron Man will culminate with The Avengers next summer.

This, however, was more than just one scene. Clearly it was a curtain-raiser for the movie itself.

(Heat Vision is not posting the video it but you can find it here.)

Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com

Twitter: @Borys_Kit