Watch the amazing first trailer for Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper

The first trailer for the highly anticipated AMERICAN SNIPER from director Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper has arrived. As we mentioned yesterday along with the first pair of images, the movie is based on the life of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. The trailer doesn't disappoint; although it's a short first trailer, it had my stomach in a knot in the first minute. I can't imagine it's going to get any easier to watch on the big screen.

Here is the synopsis:

U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

Cooper, who put a lot of hard work into preparing for the role had the chance to speak with Kyle before his death. The actor made a promise when they spoke about bringing the best-selling autobiography “American Sniper” to the big screen. "Thank God I got to talk to him once on the phone. It was a very quick conversation. But I did tell him how serious I was about making this movie, and he should just know that whatever fears he had about Hollywood, to just put them aside and trust me. That I was going to do everything I could to tell this story.” Sadly not long after their brief conversation, Kyle and his friend were fatally shot by a troubled military veteran at a sprawling Texas lodge on February 2, 2013.

AMERICAN SNIPER opens in limited release on December 25th, 2014.