Avengers: Age of Ultron is nearly upon us (or already upon us if you happen to live across the pond), and we’re barely containing our excitement. Not to brag, but I’ve already seen it, and it’s pretty great. Okay, I’m bragging a little bit. The point is, I saw it early so I could sit down and chat with the murderer’s row of awesome creative talent that helped bring the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to life. Last week, you may have seen my somewhat spoilery interview with Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johansson about the fascinating new dynamic between Black Widow and the Hulk. This time around, there are no spoilers to be had, just good times. Recently, at an LA-based press day, I caught up with–deep breath, everyone–Robert Downey Jr., Joss Whedon, James Spader, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kevin Feige, Cobie Smulders, and Jeremy Renner. We chatted about the experience of making the new film, how it compared to 2012’s Avengers, and what to expect from this journey into the heart of darkness. And yes, I apologize in advance for saying the phrase “double-edged sword” more than once.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens on May 1, 2015.

Dan Casey is the senior editor for Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious) and buy his new book all about the Avengers.