"The Thing" prequel trailer premieres (Video)

(CBS) Universal Pictures has released a trailer for its prequel to John Carpenter's 1982 classic film "The Thing."

The new film, also called "The Thing," is set to hit theaters in October.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead ("Scott Pilgrim vs. The World") stars as a scientist who travels to Antarctica and accidentally unleashes a shape-shifting alien. The film, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., also stars Joel Edgarton and Eric Christian Olsen.

The film was reportedly first pitched as a remake, but IMDB.com reports that producers were able to convince Universal to allow them make a prequel instead of a sequel or reboot. Whatever it is, the trailer does look a lot like the original film.

Tell us: What do you think of the trailer?