In the wake of SDCC ’10, Zack Snyder just released this teaser for his next picture.

Sucker Punch is Snyder’s first completely original movie and I somehow feel like this is the one he’s been working toward. I have no doubt that if Snyder had presented this concept to the Warner Bros. suits as his directorial debut, they wouldn’t have been able to shove him out of the boardroom fast enough. So instead, he built up his reputation by directing three movies based on previously established (and thus less financially risky) properties that helped to establish his geek-friendly status.

And make no mistake: This is a geek movie. It’s got samurais, giant mechs, dragons, guns, Nazis, zombies, hot babes and various combinations of the above. It’s like Snyder took everything that geeks love and somehow crammed it into a single movie. The scope and budget of what Snyder’s doing here is surely astronomical and I must give Warner Bros. credit for giving Snyder such a long leash, especially since Watchmen unfairly underperformed at the box office.

As to what the movie is about… Well, an hour ago, I would’ve told you that it’s about a girl who gets thrown in a mental asylum and dreams of escape to a fantasy world as she waits for her imminent lobotomy. But now, I can’t tell if the teaser’s editing is throwing me off or if there really is much more to this movie. Also, I don’t know if it’s because Inception is still so fresh in my mind or if it’s because WB is trying to build on Nolan’s success, but I’m getting a strong post-modern existentialist vibe. Like the movie really does call into question what the dream is and what reality is.

While the teaser is regrettably short on story details, it’s very long on visuals. Snyder is clearly bringing his A-game to this one like never before and he’s been known to make stunning visuals even at the worst of times. He’s also brought along such talented actresses as Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung and some other beautiful young actresses who are overdue for true breakout roles.

Sucker Punch is set for release in 2011, during Snyder’s lucky month of March (on the 25th, to be exact). Personally, I can’t wait to see it.

For a more detailed analysis of the teaser (with screencaps!), check out our sister blog, Smart in Name Only.