“Hidden Figures” is now officially an Academy Awards contender. Variety reports that Fox is giving the upcoming drama a qualifying run with a limited release on December 25. Additionally, “Hidden Figures’” wide release is being moved up a week to January 6.

There’s been speculation about an early release for months, and now that it’s been confirmed, it seems safe to say that the studio is confident in “Hidden Figures’” awards potential.

“Hidden Figures” is based on a true story and centers on three black women who made enormous contributions to the 1960s space race. According to the film’s synopsis, Katherine G. Johnson ( Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) “served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.”

The Academy has failed to nominate any actors of color during the last two ceremonies. Judging from “Hidden Figures” inspirational subject matter, the talent of the actresses involved, and the studio’s apparent pride in the feature, it’s possible that “Hidden Figures” could earn a Best Picture nod, as well as acting nominations for Henson, Spencer, or Monáe. Here’s hoping the movie is just one of the projects that will break the extremely troubling #OscarsSoWhite trend.

“Hidden Figures” is directed by Theodore Melfi (“St. Vincent”), who co-wrote the film with Allison Schroeder. The film is based on the upcoming book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly.