Are we ready for a new world order? That's what the trailer to a new short film, "Cruel Winter," asks us. Kanye West has probably already crowned himself king of said order.

The rapper/producer has apparently headed up another short, fueling speculation that "Cruel Winter" will not only be a film but a complete album to follow-up his G.O.O.D. Music compilation "Cruel Summer."

The video itself answers almost nothing, using only the ominous-sounding pre-recorded sample and pictures of the coldest months wreaking havoc on the landscape. It could be incredibly beautiful. And pretentious. Or, with any luck, both.

West already tried his hand at another music-driven short: for music video purposes, "Runaway" was longform, and shot with a precious hand and admiration for the female body. It containted a number of song clips, and not just "Runaway," and so maybe "Cruel Winter" will serve as the same sort of preview song-driver.

Q-Tip made first mention of "Cruel Winter" as a new piece of music, talking briefly about it at a BET Hip-Hop Awards red carpet stop in September. The former A Tribe Called Quest rhymer is one of the newest signees over at West's G.O.O.D. Music, so it only makes sense he start showing up in more recordings. Meanwhile, West has hinted he's been working on a new solo set, simultaneously as he was finishing up "Cruel Summer" this, well, summer. His last "My Beautiful Dark, Twisted Fantasy" dropped in November 2010.

What do you think? Will the crew have a complete new set out in time for Christmas, following Def Jam's famous maneuver to drop last-minute, pre-Christmas albums?