"The Spirit" Moved Up to 2008

Lionsgate has moved up the release of Frank Miller's directorial debut, "The Spirit," from January 16th, 2009 to Christmas of this year (December 25th, 2008).

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

"The Spirit" 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 December 25th are two broad comedies: the Adam Sandler starrer "Bedtime Stories" and the Jennifer Aniston/Owen Wilson starrer "Marley and Me."