"Spirit" rises to Christmas release
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Lionsgate has moved up the nationally button of its comic book adaptation "The Spirit" to Xmas Day.
The film, written and directed by Frankfurter Miller ("Sin Urban center") and based on the comic book series created by the late Will Eisner, originally was slated to open Jan 16, 2009.
"The Spirit" stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Stana Katic, Dan Lauria, Jaime Billie Jean King, Paz Vega and Louis Lombardi.
Besides slated to open on December 25 are Disney's "Bedtime Stories" and Fox 2000 Pictures' adaptation of the best seller "Robert Nesta Marley & Me."
Of the move, Lionsgate chairperson of representation films Tom Ortenberg said: "Comic-Con fans (in New York in MArch) resoundingly confirmed what we felt in our clappers around 'The Spirit': This is a great plastic film and an irresistible piece of amusement. ... For totally of us, it was an slow conclusion."
International release dates have not so far been announced.
Reuters/Hollywood Newsman
