Children are sent into battle in a futuristic world in this potential franchise launcher from Summit/Lionsgate, but “Ender’s Game” is very different from “The Hunger Games” in the first trailer for Gavin Hood’s adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s iconic sci-fi novel. Children’s innate innocence and bravery are emphasized in our first look at the film, which features Harrison Ford narrating why “a new kind of soldier” is needed to combat aliens who are always one step ahead of humans.

Set in a futuristic world where the human race has been all but wiped out by a race of bug-like aliens called Formics, the government recruits the best and brightest children to attend Battle School, where they are trained in the art of war through a series of games, including one in an anti-gravity Battle Room. Asa Butterfield plays Ender Wiggins, whose brilliance causes him to be promoted to Command School to act as a leader of children’s armies to “simulated” wars against the alien Formics, to largely successful outcomes. Hailee Steinfeld has an expanded supporting role as Petra, the only girl at the Command School, and Abigail Breslin plays Ender’s protective older sister.

The footage looks sleek and exciting, though frankly, also a bit generic and confusing, but sci-fi nerds should be excited about this one, which comes out on November 1st and hopes to be the start of a franchise. Watch the first trailer below and judge its potential for yourself.

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