Captain Marvel: First trailer introduces Nick Fury to the MCU's most powerful superhero

The character is set to become the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in phase four

The first trailer for Captain Marvel has been released – and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is here.

Academy Award-winner Brie Larson will star in the MCU's first female-led solo film, which also sees its first female director, with Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck taking co-directing duties.

Captain Marvel has been primed to become the new face of the MCU as it heads into its fourth phase, succeeding the likes of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans), as confirmed by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige.

Larson's Captain Marvel, real name Carol Danvers, is a US Air Force pilot who generates superhuman strength and the ability to fly after her DNA is fused with an alien during an accident.

Set in the 1990s, official synopsis reads: "Based on the Marvel comic character first appearing in 1968, the story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races."

With the screenplay penned by a team consisting of Boden and Fleck, Meg LeFauve, Nicole Perlman, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Liz Flahive, and Carly Mensch, the cast also includes Jude Law, Annette Bening, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Algenis Perez Soto, Rune Temte, McKenna Grace, and Jude Law.

Samuel L. Jackson also returns as Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leader, while Lee Pace and Djimon Hounsou back as their characters from Guardians of the Galaxy, Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer.

Captain Marvel will reach cinemas 8 March 2019.

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more