Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up to her Oscar winning The Hurt Locker was supposed to open wide into the crowded Christmas market on December 19. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Sony is now looking to platform Zero Dark Thirty on the date and have it open wide in early January.

It makes a lot of sense especially if they want to keep beating the Oscar wagon and have sold out screenings over Christmas in NY and LA. There’s nothing that makes people hungrier than not being able to get into movies over the holidays.

Adding to the news is word that Jessica Chastain will be pushed for best actress, which clearly means she has a big part although no one really knows anything about this film except for the trailer that recently came out.

Anticipation continues to grow as crumbs are thrown out. Hopefully the film will live up to expectations. Bigelow along with Tom Hooper who helmed the upcoming Les Miserables will both have their first post best director films in the theatre this season.

Exciting.

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Could Switch Course, Might Not Open Wide Until January (Exclusive) (Hollywood REporter)