Christmas gets Frank Miller's 'Spirit'

Lionsgate moves directorial debut to Dec. 25

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Frank Miller is feeling the Christmas spirit.

A confident Lionsgate has moved up the release of Miller's directorial debut, "The Spirit" -- adapted from Will Eisner's comicstrip -- from Jan. 16 to Dec. 25, in the heart of holiday season.

The action-adventure romance toplines Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes. Miller ("300," "Sin City") penned the adapted script.

"Spirit," a co-production of Odd Lot Entertainment and Lionsgate, revolves around a slain rookie cop who returns from the dead to fight crime and track a cold-blooded killer.

Lionsgate prexy of theatrical films Tom Ortenberg said the decision to shift the film to Christmas Day came after the project was presented to fans at New York Comic-Con.

Also set to open Dec. 25 are two broad comedies: Disney's Adam Sandler starrer "Bedtime Stories" and 20th Century Fox's Jennifer Aniston-Owen Wilson starrer "Marley and Me."

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985199.html

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